Volunteering is a social activity carried out by a group of people who fight for a common issue. As the name implies, volunteer activities are carried out voluntarily and without getting the slightest profit. This definition is often misused by people. The stereotype that develops in society assumes that people who participate in volunteer activities are people who are not busy and try to look good and holy in front of others.
Types of Volunteer
There are many types of volunteers or volunteers who are usually categorized based on the volunteer activities undertaken. In fact, now volunteer activities are not only done offline. Instead, it can be done through online volunteering. But volunteering is not just a lifestyle, volunteering has become an inseparable part. Initially, this volunteer work was carried out for humanitarian purposes. As needs develop, several innovations will emerge to meet what is needed in society. The following are the types of volunteer work programs and examples of their activities:
Education Volunteers
This volunteer activity exists because there are so many inequalities that occur in the field of education. Therefore, education volunteers or education volunteers move to bring about the best changes in the field of education. An education volunteer is anyone who has a concern for education and voluntarily devotes themselves to contribute to the development of education, especially if we look at the current state of education during the pandemic.
Well, the role of educational volunteers is important here, not just providing teaching materials, but also, building character education. Because there are so many students who are not taught character education. Therefore, it is important for the government and the community to build a program with achievements towards the success of education in the world
Health Volunteers
You can guess from the name, right? If this activity will provide health assistance services. Starting from designing procedures (SOP) and providing education about health to the public. But, what is a health volunteer? A health volunteer is anyone who cares about health issues and contributes to improving people’s health levels with their abilities voluntarily.
You can find health volunteer activities at various organizations or institutions that offer volunteer programs. As a health volunteer you will understand the problems directly in the field, provide solutions, and serve the community in the health sector.
Environmental Volunteers
This volunteer activity is becoming more common in the world. How not, the environment is an element of life that cannot be separated from humans. Because a clean and healthy environment can prevent or reduce the risk of spreading disease. That way, people will be more productive in carrying out their activities. This will affect the development of the country. Therefore, the role of environmental volunteers cannot be underestimated.
But, what is an environmental volunteer? An environmental volunteer is someone who voluntarily gives his time and energy to achieve good goals in the realm of environmental development. Usually, the tasks carried out are campaigns and training on green environmental awareness.
Humanitarian Social Volunteers
Well, this activity is most in demand by volunteers. Usually, this activity is familiarly called by various people such as humanitarian volunteers, humanist volunteers, or humanitarian social volunteers. The trend of humanitarian volunteers emerged because of various natural disasters that occurred. So it can be said that a humanitarian volunteer is someone who works or contributes voluntarily in humanitarian social movements for the benefit of the community. It can be seen from people who spend their food for other people around them, and usually they can provide rice, bulk muesli, snacks, mineral water, etc.
Volunteer for political education
You could say this type of volunteer activity is still something that young people rarely get interested in, even reluctant to discuss it. However, you must be well aware that an understanding of politics needs to be mastered by the youth. So that the relay of leadership in the political arena will be more advanced. As a result, the state and society will be more prosperous because of the ideal political policy.
Political education volunteers are individuals who are voluntarily active and involved in the political field, and play a role in providing public understanding about politics. If you become a volunteer engaged in political education, then your job is to educate and provide input on policies regarding politics.
Benefits of Being a Volunteer
When we enter the world of work we are often required to have a lot of experience. This experience can be considered as our readiness to enter the world of work. But the form of experience is not just a job, you know, experience can be in the form of internships, events or volunteering. Volunteers can be one of your provisions before starting a career.
Volunteer is a form of individual participation in social activities based on personal desires. Through volunteer activities, you will get new connections with many people, share benefits for the social environment and have an impact on mental health as well. Some Benefits of join a volunteer part:
Build and expand social networks
Being a volunteer makes you connect with many people in the community as well as people who are social targets. Not only expanding your network of friends because they share the same goal to help each other, but it could be people in the community who help you find a career path. Outside of volunteer activities, you and other members can share information about various things including career opportunities.
Help find value in life
Being a social volunteer you will be invited to care more about others. From there you will be able to find the true meaning of life, that we as humans should help each other because in this world individuals need each other. You will also learn to be more sincere in helping people in need without expecting anything in return.
Make us more sensitive to environmental problems
There are many others out there who have difficulties and need help, by becoming volunteers we are taught to open our eyes that the environment needs us to participate in the welfare of humans.
Develop teamwork skills
When you enter the world of work you will be required to be able to work both independently and as a team. Well, if you have experience as a volunteer, you will learn how to work together as a team to achieve goals. You will be trained to communicate, coordinate and express opinions. Volunteer activities can be a reflection of the professional work environment as well.
Help to develop technical skills
By participating in volunteer activities, you will get assignments that match your needs and expertise. For example, if you are appointed as the media and documentation division, you will learn how to get a good moment during the activity and summarize it into an interesting video. Your photography and editing skills will be honed. Or you enter as a medical staff who has to treat patients affected by epidemics or victims of natural disasters. That way, volunteering can be used as a means to develop abilities and skills before entering the world of work.
Make us always grateful for life
The desire from the heart to help others realizes that there are still many out there who need our helping hands. Many children drop out of school due to financial constraints and personal conditions that make it impossible to go to school, or people who have difficulty getting medical assistance due to expensive hospital fees. By being a volunteer, we will be more grateful for the blessings that God has given, and realize that these blessings can also be shared with others.
