Dianah
My first memory of volunteering was when I was in elementary school. I would volunteer to clean the chalk brushes; to go outside and bang them against the wall to get the chalk dust off. It was fun. My teacher was happy when I volunteered because most of the time I was getting in trouble.
My first "real" experience with volunteering was when I was in grade five or six. Every year two senior students volunteered or were requested to supervise the kindergarten students during lunch hour. My best friend Karyn and I decided to do it. I'm not sure who's idea it was but it was a win/win situation. The kindergarten teacher was very appreciative, the kids were fun and I got to spend time with my best friend. PLUS, at Halloween, Christmas and Easter, we got special treats for our hard work. Initially volunteering meant doing a favour for someone, but there was always an element of fun.
As I got older, I realized I had skills that that would be of some use to other people. I recognized that volunteering didn't have to be a one way thing; I had things to offer but there were also many things to gain from volunteering. I enjoyed working with youth, so for the next few years I volunteered by working with youth in different capacities, from being on a board of a youth organization to peer counseling in my high school to organizing recreational activities for younger youth in group homes.
The most important ingredients for volunteering in my opinion, are that my time and energy are being put to use in something worthwhile, that the time and commitment expectation are reasonable and that learning is happening in both directions. My disappointing volunteer experiences occurred when I have been left to flounder on my own with no clear idea of what is expected of me and when my contribution is not perceived to be as important as paid staff or board members.
Volunteering is not easy; it takes time, energy and a belief that you have something to offer. That's why it's important that volunteers are appreciated. Volunteers should be trained, supervised, evaluated and presented with opportunities to go to workshops and improve their skills. Volunteers should be treated as important members of the team.
Volunteering can be rewarding. It is a way to share your skills, to gain new ones, to meet people, to make good friends and to become aware of the bigger picture by stepping outside of our sometimes narrow and individual worlds. Volunteering connects me to other people; my problems don't seem so big and I become more aware of the many privileges that I sometimes take for granted. When there is less and less money available for important work, volunteering becomes a way to ensure that at least some of those services will still be available. Volunteering is a way of building communities.
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