Surely, everyone has heard about volunteers, people who kindly change the world for the better. Has anyone wondered why they do this? What motivates a person who is ready to give time and energy for nothing to strangers?
Some people are donors or donate things to charity, others sponsor good projects. There are people who create an atmosphere of hope, despite the hard routine of volunteering. So what does volunteering do for a person?
- Improving mental health
To be a volunteer means to benefit society. Realizing that you do something useful, you also feel your importance. This has a positive effect on your psychological health, self-esteem and self-confidence. In such a moral state, a person can do anything.
- Developing important skills
During your volunteer work, you will develop the skills necessary for your future career. For example, sociability, responsibility, independence. The main thing is the ability to understand the feelings of others, which today is called one of the key skills of the future.
I volunteer because I realize how I change myself every day. I used to be a different person, now I think how to help others every day.
Adelina, a volunteer from Moscow
- Useful meeting
Volunteering is a great opportunity to get into the environment of like-minded people, make new meetings, get on with someone.
- The opportunity to travel and practice languages
There are many international volunteer programs for young people. The main request is usually knowledge of a foreign language. Participation in such programs gives an opportunity to see new countries, different cultures and practice the language.
Speaking about the last point, it can be noted that volunteering today has become not only a way to help the world, but also an option for traveling. The desire to help can be realized almost anywhere in the world. Where can you go to do goodness?
Volunteering programs in Europe
There are many people, organizations, communities and countries in Europe that need volunteers in almost all fields of activity that can benefit every volunteer. These places can teach each volunteer something unique that will benefit them.
Ireland
Crooked House Theatre Company
Volunteers teach acting skills. The participants live in Newbridge. Every Monday they receive a three-hour training on teaching dramatic art. Then they help young actors improve their skills and share theirs
Malta
Centru Tbexbix
Volunteers teach yoga to children and the elderly people. For some volunteers, this is a dream project: they can go to a sunny island with a rich culture and work in a yoga center. Volunteers also organize entertainment for children here: they play with them and do simple master classes.
Netherlands
Rock Solid Foundation for International Youth Work
Volunteers work in centers for people with disabilities. This is one of the most popular areas in volunteer projects. Help is always needed in such centers.
Lithuania
Volunteers work in national nature parks and help them function. There are a lot of them in Lithuania and everyone accepts foreign volunteers. Participants are settled away from the city. I think this will suit those who are tired of noisy cities.