Volunteering is hard, but rewarding and inspiring work. For someone, the desire to help others is born in a difficult life period, while someone comes to him through a huge faith in goodness. If you feel that you are ripe for volunteering, but do not understand the whole inner workings, this guide will help.

What is volunteering

A job for which you will not be paid.At all

The very essence of volunteering is that you do some useful work on a voluntary basis.Selflessly.So don’t expect to be paid.But some organizations can provide room and board if you come from another area.This is a great chance to visit new cities, get to know the country better and meet like-minded people.

In addition, there are incentive programs: various gifts or prizes are given for good deeds.And if you are an applicant, volunteer experience will allow you to get additional points to the results of the Unified State Examination or an advantage when entering some universities.

Temporary or regular employment

All volunteer projects can be conditionally divided into permanent ones, such as environmental initiatives or assistance funds, and situational ones: one-time actions, fees, charity events.Volunteers are often sought to work at major events – sports competitions, scientific conferences, creative competitions.To get into such a team, you need to apply in advance and pass the selection from the organizers.

Possibility to choose the field of activity

In almost every city there are organizations that deal with environmental issues, fight against environmental pollution and for the rational use of natural resources.Medical funds help sick children and adults, organize palliative care.Volunteers are always required in the regional offices of the Red Cross.Animal protection initiatives find owners for homeless animals, deal with their treatment and overexposure.Projects that collect donations for the poor, organize free food and medical care for those in need are also quite common.Volunteer work is useful for solving almost any social problem.

How to find the right initiative

Decide on a direction

To understand what kind of volunteering is right for you, you just need to dream.Remove the financial component.Think about who you would be if you didn’t have to earn a living.Make a list of socially significant professions.Add to it the initiatives that evoke the strongest emotional response in you and the events that you have always wanted to attend.

Then figure out your own competencies.You should not try to volunteer in nurseries for homeless animals if you are terribly afraid of dogs.You must clearly understand which skills you will use with pleasure, and which work can cause negative emotions: stress, apathy, burnout.Only after that proceed to the search.Volunteering will bring a feeling of complete satisfaction if desires and opportunities harmoniously merge in it.

Consider how much time you are willing to volunteer

Once in a volunteer initiative, newcomers often rush into the pool with their heads.The desire to save everyone right now overwhelms, and a person takes on more than he can bear.Other areas of life begin to suffer: family, work, relationships with friends.To avoid this, follow the schedule chosen at the start, gradually increasing or decreasing the social load time.

Get to know the programs

Many foundations and volunteer organizations hold open days.Feel free to attend several of these meetings.It will become clearer to you what specialists are needed, how you can be useful, whether special training is required in the initiative you like.

Participate in one-time promotions to evaluate the work “in the field”.For example, environmental organizations often arrange subbotniks and tree plantings, and animal welfare funds are asked to collect food and medicine.Sometimes volunteer organizations need gratuitous intellectual assistance: consult on legal issues, draw a booklet, promote a profile on social networks, make a website or mobile application.A temporary immersion in the inner workings of the project will help you understand if you want to volunteer with this team further.

Get trained

Most volunteer work does not require special skills.However, if you have chosen a narrow field, such as working with addicts or donating, special knowledge may be required.To feel more confident on the chosen path, take training courses.Some organizations train newcomers themselves.If this is not possible, look for information online and on special sites.

What you need to be prepared for

Misunderstanding from relatives

Unfortunately, this happens.When you spend time and energy on volunteering, you somehow take these resources from relationships with family, partner or friends.And even if you are initially supported, misunderstandings can still arise.

To avoid this, talk frankly with loved ones.Do not pour in general phrases, state only your feelings and thoughts.Explain what inspired you to volunteer, why you really need to help others.And you can gently and unobtrusively invite a loved one to join.Joint charitable work can greatly bring you closer to your family.

Fatigue and burnout

Volunteering is not a hobby.This is a responsible, sometimes emotionally difficult, sometimes unpleasant and exhausting job.Volunteering can burn you out.No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to save all the sick children, house all the stray cats, clean up the entire planet from garbage once and for all.

You will face setbacks, closed doors, losses and total team desperation.When you feel that a crisis moment has come, take a break, reflect.Think about why you became a volunteer in the first place.Think of those who have already been helped, thanks to your knowledge and skills.

Making new friends

You will communicate a lot with wards and like-minded people, other team members.Curators help and support, especially beginners.Often, novice volunteers are combined into groups with more experienced guys – so getting to know the initiative is faster and more comfortable.No matter how difficult the problem, you will not be left alone with it.