Often, there are so many volunteer opportunities to choose; finding the right one is difficult. Here are some helpful hints:
Pick an issue you really care about.
What are
some community problems that concern you, If your choices include broad
issues like, health or environment, you may want to narrow it down to
specific parts of the problem (e.g., cancer or clean water).
Ask your friends.
Over 65% of all volunteers who volunteer do so because they were asked.
Look at immediate needs.
Organisations
submit immediate needs to the Volunteer Centre. Review their needs and
get some ideas of the possibilities. Check out the online database.
Think about your skills.
Are there skills that you have that you’d like to use in a volunteer opportunity?
Ask the GVC for ideas.
Email us at donncha@volunteergalway.ie or call 087 1353546. We’re more than happy to give ideas.
Be Aware Of Your Needs:
One of the most important considerations you should think about before volunteering are your needs.
Motivation:
What
do you want to gain from volunteering? This answer varies from person
to person and no answer is wrong. From a chance to make a difference to
using a skill or talent; from gaining professional experience to
expressing your religious faith; from a chance to meet new people to
achieving personal growth; gaining a more balanced life to giving
something back. There are lots of reasons people volunteer. Be aware of
yours.
Age:
If you are under 16 you will
need to let the volunteer co-ordinator know your age; some agencies have
set age limits for their volunteers.
Time:
For
many people the biggest barrier to volunteering is a busy schedule.
However, most of us really can fit volunteering into our lives. There is
no minimum time requirement, you can put in an hour a day, an hour a
month, or an hour a year. Look for holes in your schedule or combine
volunteering with other important activities like family time, or
combine it with a hobby (e.g. photography, playing the piano, etc.).
Location:
Remember
to pick a convenient location – sticking with a volunteer opportunity
will be hard if getting there is part of the problem.
Fun:
Remember
that you should enjoy your volunteering experience. Pick something that
you think will be fun, fulfilling and enjoyable.
Remember that if you decide to volunteer with an organisation, you do have certain rights & responsibilities as a volunteer.