Why is volunteer work important

Volunteer Management. Volunteer Engagement. Volunteer Communication. Volunteer Reporting. About Us. Why is Volunteering Important?

The Importance of Volunteer Work For Adults Many studies have stated the importance of community service to the well-being of the volunteers themselves. The health benefits of volunteerism are especially evident in adults: Improvements in Emotional Well-Being: The human brain is wired to help others.

Or emotional health is rewarded when we participate in altruistic behavior. A study of adults over age 65 found that the social interaction and sense of accomplishment that volunteering activities can provide have been linked to the overall improvement in mental health and general life satisfaction in older adults.

Improvements in Physical Health: The same study also reported that volunteering can lead to improvements in physical health in older adults, as many service activities involve light to moderate physical activity. Furthermore, this study found that volunteers were more likely to use preventive health care services than non-volunteers. And volunteers spent fewer nights in hospitals.

Volunteering encourages people of all ages to interact with—and work to understand—each other, strengthening social ties and inspiring feelings of empathy. Longer, Happier Lives : Adults over 50 who volunteered at least hours per year were less stressed, more social, and had a lower risk of hypertension. In fact, the effects of altruism are so powerful that researchers have found a link between volunteerism and lower mortality rates in older adults. Here are a few significant reasons volunteering is important for young people: Develop Transferable Skills : Children and young adults who volunteer regularly practices skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership that are vital to succeed in academics, the workplace, and their personal lives.

Children who volunteer are also found to be more engaged in academics by helping them apply classroom-based learning to real-world situations. Practice Empathy: Empathy and citizenship are developed during childhood and adolescence. Participating in volunteer activities from an early age can help foster empathy and inclusivity, qualities necessary for building safe, unified communities.

Help Children Value Themselves: As children grow, they develop an increased self-awareness. Whatever area you are volunteering in, you are making an impact in your life, the lives of those you volunteer with, and the lives of those who benefit from your efforts. SelectHealth may link to other websites for your convenience. SelectHealth does not expressly or implicitly recommend or endorse the views, opinions, specific services, or products referenced at other websites linked to the SelectHealth site, unless explicitly stated.

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Want to learn more about farming and agriculture? Interested in learning to compost? Do you enjoy playing with children? Spending time with the elderly? Would you want to learn how to help refugees? Deciding what kind of organization you would like to work with first will help you bring enthusiasm and excitement to your volunteer experience. Are you interested in working outside of your home country?

Do you have the time and finances to travel? Would you rather stay close to home where you might not have to spend money to volunteer? Consider again what might work best for you. Volunteering abroad tends to be expensive and time-consuming, which may or may not be something you are prepared to do. Plus there are many opportunities right in our own communities! But if you want to do work to save the oceans for instance, and you live in the mountains of Colorado, your local community may not have the right opportunity for you.

In that case, you will want to search outside of your hometown. Make sure that if you are considering volunteering abroad, that you work only with a reputable organization that you can verify necessary information about what to expect before you leave home. There are some amazing opportunities to combine your travel with volunteering.

Companies like Have Fun Do Good provide the opportunity to do purposeful travel, arranging for your trip to be structured around a service project. Learn more about how these travel experiences incorporate volunteer projects in our interview with the Founder of Have Fun Do Good, Adam Kunes! Kind Traveler and Discover Corps also allow you to take your impact beyond your hometown.

Or, maybe you prefer saving sea turtles on a visit to Costa Rica? The possibilities are endless! The reasons people volunteer are many and will vary person to person.

Working towards equality for everyone will make a better world for all of us! Whether you are a high school student volunteering at a football game, a girl scout selling cookies, or a senior volunteering at an animal shelter, when your efforts go towards making society better for all of us, we all feel better. Good luck on your search for the right volunteer experience for you and let us know how your experience goes!

Happy volunteering! Alma Rominger is an educator and farmer passionate about regenerative agriculture, composting, gardening for mental health, and outdoor education.

Alma believes that the health of the earth and the health of its people are intrinsically connected and has spent her entire career advocating for both. She currently specializes in Bokashi composting systems and soil ecology through her work with Compost Queens, a women-owned community composting company based in the San Antonio area. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity.

And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals. Volunteering combats depression. Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation.

Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer? Whether due to a lack of transportation, time constraints, a disability or other reasons, many people prefer to volunteer via phone or computer. There are many projects where you can help. If you think home-based volunteering might be right for you, contact organizations you like and ask what some of the possibilities might be. Some volunteer organizations may require you to attend an initial training or periodical meetings.