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According to analysts, people will soon begin to abandon the individualistic and consumerist lifestyle. Any forecasts of the consequences of the economic crisis (from expert to kitchen) are based on one indisputable fact: money and opportunities will become noticeably less. And all of them. Therefore, it's time to stop grieving about what happened. It will be much more productive to think about how to adapt to changed circumstances.
According to analysts, people will soon begin to abandon the individualistic and consumerist lifestyle. At the very least, they will begin to communicate more and help each other more often.
Experts believe that this wave will increase interest in volunteer work in the West. The number of people doing volunteer work may also increase in Russia.
If not for one "but": we often have very little idea of who the volunteers are, how their work is arranged, and why they are doing it.
Volunteer myths
Voluntary work remains unusual in our country.
You can often hear a variety of myths about her.
Myth 1. The wives of rich husbands are engaged in charity because they have nothing to do, the rest cannot afford it.
In fact, there is no direct link between being a volunteer and not having financial problems. Moreover, not the most successful people often become volunteers - those who have been temporarily unemployed and have no professional experience. They use volunteerism as a springboard to gain guidance and skills.
This myth, unfortunately, is often shared not only by outsiders, but also by domestic charitable organizations themselves. But normally, the bulk of the volunteers should be people who help on a regular basis: this is most beneficial for both the organization and the volunteer himself. How often the volunteer will work in the organization may vary. For example, a high-level specialist can provide his advice to a charitable foundation once a month free of charge.
Myth 3. Only absolutely heroic people work as volunteers who are ready to work hard every day for free.
In general, the concept of "volunteer" does not automatically imply that a person should work for free and on a daily basis. In reality, few will agree to this. Normally, the work of a volunteer should take no more than 4-5 hours per week, or less, for example, once a month, depending on the nature of the work. That is, in fact, volunteering takes no more time than any courses or hobbies. Moreover, the volunteers themselves receive significant benefits from what they do.
Why do they need it
Research in countries where volunteering is culturally normal has identified the main reasons that motivate people to take up free work.
Feeling of self-benefit. Many people do not see the direct results of work in their main job and do not get real satisfaction from it. For such people, volunteering becomes an opportunity to "take a break" from the race for money and status, to do work dictated by their moral principles. It is well known from social psychology that when people help others, it increases their self-confidence and evokes very strong positive emotions.
Career support. Usually they volunteer for reasons of altruism, but after the fact, many say that such work has helped them in their careers. Many charities provide free training opportunities for volunteers, they can also write recommendations to a potential employer, issue an official certificate of a particular work experience. For some students, such as psychologists and social workers, volunteering is a “natural” way to gain professional experience. Charity can also be an option for those temporarily "dropped out" from the world of work, for example, when going on maternity leave. Either way, this is an opportunity to hone your skills. According to an American study conducted among women, volunteering in more than 80% of participants led to improved leadership skills.
How to start volunteer work
It is not uncommon for volunteers to write letters to several organizations, but they still cannot wait for an answer, and as a result, their desire to engage in volunteer work disappears. Sometimes, in order to do a good deed for free, you often need to show maximum activity, namely:
Prepare your resume. Volunteers will make life easier for themselves and organizations if they have the most detailed resume at the ready, indicating skills and work experience. Volunteering is often an opportunity to learn something new, so you can also prepare a description of what you would like to learn at the same time. Surely you will have to tell why you are interested in this particular area, and how much time you can spend on volunteer work.
Talk to employees of the organization. When you call the organization, try to find out if someone from the staff can meet with you, tell you about their place of work, answer your questions and ask you questions. So you will be able to get an idea of what kind of people work there and what kind of atmosphere reigns inside. The good intentions of the organization do not guarantee that there will be no undercover intrigue, workplace bullying or neglect of volunteers.
Never take on too much. Often a person who is going to volunteer for the first time wants, at the very least, to save the whole world. These missionary attitudes are neither healthy nor productive. It is imperative that the hours that a person devotes to free work fit into his life schedule and do not interfere with other plans and goals.
