It’s something that I constantly recommend to many people around me. It’s more than just warm fuzzies that you get out of volunteering. It provides ample opportunities to gain practical skills and experience, and to build a strong networking base while providing the satisfaction of being engaged in community service.
It’s my observation that my desi colleagues aren’t as engaged in community service as my other colleagues, and I feel that most think of it as something that’s pertinent to students and professionals in their early career phases. I tend to disagree with this viewpoint, and think there’s a lot to be gained from volunteer opportunities.
So my questions are:
Do you do it? If yes, what’s the nature of your commitment (time and resources, type of work etc.). What do you get out of it?
If you don’t, then why not? What’s your viewpoint or reasons?
LC:wave:.. what a refreshing thread!:k:… u raise some self reflective points!.. I have an have been a keen advocator of voluntary work and gaining “real life experience”… I remember whilst at secondary school- as it was a community school, we had Friday mornings as volunteering services.. I worked in an Old age pensioners home ( now referred to as "Retirement homes or Nursing homes).. and for me, I got to see the plight of elderly people and how caring is such huge nourishing act!.. also before going into teaching, I did voluntary work at my old primary school- that was awesome as it helped me in my decision of which age group I wished to work with - Roll on Secondary schools:balley:..;)… even whilst working full time in the Gulf, Ive still maintained my “volunteer and charity aspects” of my life alhamdolilah it does allow you to "put back into society’ and the opportunities of networking and meeting REAL people is pretty phenomenal!!!..cant wait to read our guppies thoughts!!!
I am not as involved as I was at one point. extremely involved during uni days, over the last decade, initially I was very involved with a non profits, but did not have the appetite for politics and dead weight ppl clinging on for vanity and ego and messing things up. Now I volunteer with different groups, as needed but am not active in any particular organization as such.
great responses so far... may be I was wrong in my perceptions afterall.
@poppies; ... good to hear about your experiences, and I definitely agree that there's a huge sense of satisfaction in doing something for the community, not just because you have to, but because you want to.
@Mirch; bhai, habitat for humanity is a great cause... what's the nature of your involvement with them?
@X2; I try to stay away from the politics as well, but I have to admit that it's the desi organizations that are more problematic in this area. My involvement with them is unfortunately very limited as well. On the other hand, I work with Oxfam and CompuCorps pretty regularly. These days, I pretty much lend a hand in specific projects that come my way through references in these organizations. I leave the governance to people who are interested in it, and prefer to contribute in tangible ways in ongoing projects.
My employer arranges for employees to participate in volunteering opportunities. So we have a team and a team leader who co-ordinates the team effort for various building projects carried out by Habitat I work as a team member on that team.
I am an administrator and a teacher at the Sunday school at the local masjid as a volunteer.. lots of work, yes but knowing that I can help kids to strengthen their faith is awesome and just the fact that teenage girls feel comfortable to talk to us as big sisters about several things so we can guide them is a priceless feeling!
and I am a member of Medical Reserve Corps… on call for emergencies… we get a 24 hour notification to help set up the emergency shelter, vaccination clinic, or answer phones related to the emergency etc in any town or city in the county.. it’s our call to attend or not but most of the time I end up going
and in school, I used to do craft activities with and for mentally n physically challenged children at the rehab center every week for 3-5 hours! and was a volunteer counselor for patients and families visiting the ER at the local hospital, sometimes it meant reading a book to an elderly or listening to bits n pieces of their life stories that most of the time I didn’t understand but it made them feel good that someone was listening..nice feeling indeed!
I wish I had time to do more volunteer work but I work full time, do my consulting busines part time, and manage the Sunday school so this leaves me with Saturdays with my family so can’t compromise that
I am involved with our local mosque here. They hold many inter-faith community events, seminars, fundraisers, marches, lectures-its nice way of contributing and being involved with the community. From my experience here, I haven't come across any politics and a lot of the other senior members are mixed and its not only limited to desis.
I would like to explore other volunteer work as well just to see what its like and how different it works. I have no idea what type of volunteer work I should look into.
In college I did quite involved active, I volunteer @ a cancer hospital for almost 2 consecutive yrs, nursing home, public school as a tutor, and homeless shelter. For almost year and a half, I haven't done much except volunteer for my school events. InshahAllah, down the road I will try to involve myself in more of those community service events.
What do I get out of it....they have been great learning experiences for me, they have helped me look @ life in a more optimistic manner, and be thankful for all the blessing I have.
@X2; I try to stay away from the politics as well, but I have to admit that it's the desi organizations that are more problematic in this area. My involvement with them is unfortunately very limited as well. On the other hand, I work with Oxfam and CompuCorps pretty regularly. These days, I pretty much lend a hand in specific projects that come my way through references in these organizations. I leave the governance to people who are interested in it, and prefer to contribute in tangible ways in ongoing projects.
I agree, I serve on alumni board for my uni and on the national board for another organization, and while there are egos and friction, it is nothing compared to desi groups. I stay away now, I will contribute effort and volunteer, but that way I am doing what I want and when I want and not have to deal with dramay baazi and nakhras of desi groups
