Volunteerism is often packaged as a win-win-win strategy because, in the end, everyone; volunteers, their communities and the world benefits. No effort is too small or too much when it comes to volunteerism. You can spend your spare time of 30 minutes to volunteer, you can also dedicate a month or two to voluntary activities. If you are contemplating whether volunteerism is worth your time, take a read and decide for yourself.
First, volunteerism is good for your health. BMC Public Health a reputable peer-reviewed journal with a focus on the epidemiology of the disease has found that volunteering enhances mental and physical wellbeing, life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem. The research team led by Prof. Jerf W. K. Yeung revealed that participation in voluntary services significantly lowers depressive symptoms, psychological distress and functional inability. These health benefits are more evident in matured people (40 years and above), but young people also benefit significantly from volunteering, health-wise.
Second volunteers easily get noticed for recognition. Volunteering has many career benefits; one can get a job offer or promotion by volunteering. You may be noticed for promotion when you volunteer and take personal initiative at the workplace. Volunteering is also one of the easiest ways of gaining real-work experience to add to your resume. Again, volunteering for tasks outside of your routine helps you to acquire knowledge and skills that can be applied to improve your efficacy on the job and other aspects of life.
Third, volunteering is good for our communities. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only continent in the world that failed to reach the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty between 1990 and 2015. Although poverty is rife in Africa, issues such as; the lack of potable water, poor sanitation and educational inequality can be addressed through volunteerism. Several local and international voluntary organisations are already helping to address some of these pressing issues in our communities. Some individuals also continue to support deprived communities in diverse ways. However, the problems in African communities are enormous, hence more volunteers are to be able to make any significant headway.
Fourth, volunteers make the world a better place. Let’s face it, no government can adequately provide for the needs of all its citizenry. Businesses on the other hand are not always interested in addressing some of the worlds most pressing problems such as income inequality and climate change because there is no immediate profit from solving these problems. As a result, individuals and groups must volunteer time, skills and knowledge to address certain issues governments and businesses continue to overlook. Volunteers, therefore, make the world a better place for everyone. Volunteers around the world are helping to plant trees in deforested areas and to build schools in deprived communities to mention a few.
In conclusion, the benefits of volunteerism are enormous and far-reaching. Volunteerism is good for your health, your career, your community and the world. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in Ghana and Africa. If you would like to volunteer in Ghana, you can sign-up for the Ghana Volunteers Program. You can also directly approach your preferred community or business organisations. You may even go solo and tackle the little challenges in your community or organisation that everyone seems to have overlooked. Remember, no effort is too small or too big!
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