inue the good acts of those who have come before them.
To satisfy an inherent desire to volunteer
There are also volunteers who have a deep need to engage in volunteer activities, whether by their upbringing or mission in life. These volunteers are typically proactive in seeking opportunities to help out without an external motivator encouraging them to do so.
To learn more about other lifestyles and cultures
Volunteering is also a time for learning. Some volunteers select their activities based on interests that they have, or curiosities they want to explore. They get to learn about the beneficiaries they interact with. Many volunteers discover how differently others live through their volunteer activities, which can be eye opening.
To meet like-minded people
Being a volunteer doesn’t just end in meeting the members of a non-profit organization or its beneficiaries. In fact, volunteers find that they can easily meet and make friends among their volunteer group, particularly because volunteerism gathers people together with common interests to help others without expecting anything in return.
To put their special talents to good use
Some volunteers have special talents and creative endeavors that they want to nurture, but find that their work or personal situation may not be the best outlet for it. In their desire to develop their capabilities, they look for avenues to exercise these skills, and many non-profit organizations welcome this opportunity to be the recipient of talent that would’ve gone unnoticed otherwise.
To reach a goal in life
Like many people, a number of volunteers have certain personal goals, but their priority is toward helping others. Some might have religious beliefs that prioritizes serving others. Volunteering is a way for them to reach their goals in being helpful to others.
To have fun!
Many people think volunteering is tedious or require great labor. In fact, many volunteers will tell you that volunteering is a fun activity. You may get to go outside of the city to help out in a tree planting program, or explore a side of the city you’ve never encountered before. Other times, it’s the camaraderie and goodwill shared among volunteers that make it fun.
In a world where people are always given incentives to begin something, it’s almost counter-intuitive why volunteers do what they do. Yet these reasons shed light on the motivations and intentions of volunteers that makes their volunteer work worthwhile. Most volunteers complete their volunteer activity with a smile on their faces, having reached a goal, satisfied a desire, discovered something new, or simply completed a task for another person’s benefit. So go ahead, talk to one and ask them their reason for volunteering!
by Kristine Fetalco, iVolunteer Philippines