How To Leverage Volunteering Opportunities To Hack Your Learning Curve As A Student

Over 1 billion people volunteer worldwide. This staggering number is due to the dual, mutual benefits of volunteering.

When you work as a volunteer, not only do you get to experience the joy of helping people and growing as a person, but you also get to make a positive change in someone’s life and make a difference in society.

Volunteering is a win-win because everyone benefits through it: the person volunteering, the people who are being helped, and the society at large.

Volunteering is an excellent opportunity for teenagers in particular to grow as a person. Doing volunteer work helps you imbibe the qualities of empathy, compassion, and teamwork to be better human beings for the future.

Many high school students often have ambitions and the motivation to make a change in their society. However, it can be confusing to channel that energy into actual work since not many of us know the right ways to get involved in community service or get in touch with Non-Profit Organizations.

Here are 5 ways you can find the right volunteering opportunity for you and use it to enable your personal and professional growth.

Know Yourself

Like many things in life, volunteering starts from a place of self-awareness.

There are various types of volunteering that you can do, this can feel daunting initially. That’s why you need to narrow down your options.

The best thing to do is to work for a cause that is close to your heart and has some meaning to you in your personal life. Doing this gives you even more satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

For instance, if you enjoy the company of children/elderly people, then you might consider helping out at an orphanage or an old-age home.

Ask yourself what you genuinely like doing and follow that to find an opportunity in that specific volunteering sector.

Don’t Restrict Yourself Too Much Though

Only restricting yourself to specific well-known organizations can be counterproductive in your journey of finding a suitable volunteering opportunity as they usually already have many individuals willing to provide volunteering services. You need to look where you will actually be needed.

Look for organizations that are up and coming or comparatively less popular in your city. Present yourself as someone who could help them grow and utilize your skills to further that particular organization’s end goal.

Communicate effectively that with your help and skills, the organization can reach & support more people in need than before.

Utilize Your Network

Ask around about volunteering opportunities from your friends or their network. It can be challenging to open up to others but in most cases you’ll find that they’re more than happy to help you!

Search for places which are mostly student based or led by fellow students like you. Many youth-run organizations aim to make the world a better place by working in various domains. You can always reach out to the organizations run by teenagers and young people and offer your services.

Connecting with like-minded people of your age helps in building your network and can be beneficial to the work that you do.

Working with such organizations will hone your communication skills, teamwork, and professional skills, giving you a solid headstart in your professional life.

Plan And Communicate Effectively

Juggling academics, co-curriculars, and external work like volunteering can be difficult. So be sure to plan ahead and reflect on whether you’ll actually have the time and energy needed to give your best to the volunteering opportunity before you apply anywhere.

Do your best to also provide accurate details about your time commitments prior to starting work because backing out at the last minute or not showing up when needed can be viewed as highly unprofessional.

Once you start with your position, deliver your duties properly and put your skills to use. Working as a volunteer will expose you to new challenges and experiences through which you’ll learn many skills, make new connections, and take up challenges that will build your confidence.

Some Ideas To Run With

If you’re still short on ideas with regards to volunteering, don’t worry, your friends at Kohort have got you covered!

• Volunteer at old age homes or orphanages. 💟
• Environment/Climate Change Activism 🌍
• Joining organizations that raise awareness about topics such as menstrual hygiene, sex education, or LGBTQIA+ rights. 🏳️‍🌈
• Teaching underprivileged children 🚸
• Organizing feeding drives for stray animals 🐕
• Organizing medicine distribution drives for the needy⚕️
• Fundraising for important causes, online or offline

Now go out there and get started on your volunteering journey! Change yourself and the world for the better, one day at a time.