Whether it’s collecting canned food for an elderly neighbour or mentoring youth, volunteer work has a wide variety of impacts on people and the environment. Depending on the type of volunteer job, it can appeal to anyone from introverts to extroverts, and help them gain valuable skills for their professional life.
There are many types of volunteer jobs, but some of the most common include:
Helping the sick
Providing care to the elderly and disabled can improve their quality of life. This volunteer work includes helping run errands, taking them to appointments and offering a listening ear. It can also include assisting in the operation of a clinic or hospice.
Clean community
Organizing food drives and cleaning parks, streets and beaches are important ways of improving the living conditions of communities. These projects often require a lot of manual labor and can be quite fulfilling.
Education
Teaching children and adults basic subjects such as reading, writing and math enables individuals to achieve a higher standard of living and better socialisation. It can also prepare them for the workforce and reduce the likelihood of crime.
Environmental conservation
Tasks like reforestation, beach cleanup and nature trail construction can be physically demanding, but they can make a big difference to the environment. Animal lovers can also look into animal shelter volunteering, which involves cleaning cages, playing with animals and conducting behavioral training. Less hands-on tasks can be done remotely, such as fundraising, events and administrative work for non-profit organisations.