Written by : Ibtisam Al-Khaifi

Volunteering is a philanthropic activity that is intended to promote goodness. Some people think that volunteering is highly regarded. However others argue that time should be spent on more important issues. Volunteering means to carry out a duty without expecting any reward. Being a volunteer means you want to be a helping hand in a community without needing to be ordered or told. It could play a role in changing other’s life by helping people who are unable to help themselves or serving the community thus producing a feeling of self-worth and respect.

Volunteering can be of numerous types but all work towards the main goal of serving the community and being socially responsible. Most prominent being is Skill-based volunteering, which enhances the skills and talents of individuals. This helps them to develop and sustain their infrastructure. Workshops and inductions in various fields are given to improve the individual’s performance. Then comes Environmental-volunteering which refers to the management and conservation of environmental resources. Beach cleaning campaigns, protecting endangered animals and planting saplings come under this category. Finally the best kind according to me is volunteering in an emergency. When a natural disaster strikes, people from different backgrounds join hands and play a pivotal role in the recovery effort following the natural disasters. It attracts large number of volunteers worldwide and is supported by governmental and non-governmental organizations and United Nations.

There are numerous benefits of volunteering. Firstly, it strengthens skills both interpersonal and organizational skills such as communication skills, time management skills, ability to work with others, team work and other survival skills. Secondly, volunteering does not only improve general knowledge, but also help to deal with problems, challenges as well as dealing with different types of responsibilities. Thirdly, it leads to spiritual and personal growth. A volunteer will become a deserving of respect and his standing will be elevated. Moreover, it allows one to become more mature at younger age, so volunteering help one learn the importance of responsibility in carrying out duties.

Volunteering is a way of giving back to your community while enhancing skills and gaining valuable experience at the same time. It is an experience that cannot be bought with any amount of money. There are many benefits to be gained by volunteering. The volunteer should be able to prioritize his schedule in order to devote time for volunteering activities that can help and serve others.