How do I become a volunteer?

Many people at least once have wanted to start doing good works. The phrase “how to volunteer” is typed into a search engine thousands of times, but only a few have the drive to get to the end.

WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEERING IS THERE?

There are many kinds of volunteering – you are sure to find something that fits your interests. For example, sports and event volunteering – they are especially popular during international events like the Olympics, FIFA World Cup or Universiade. Or cultural – when volunteers are needed to organize and support exhibitions, festivals or concerts. Environmental – for those who care about the future of the planet and are ready to take active care of it, such as picking up litter on the beach or disseminating information about nature conservation.

If you want to help people from vulnerable social groups, be it children without parental care, lonely elderly people, homeless people or anyone else who is in a difficult situation, you should consider social volunteering.

If you know how to take pictures, write texts, play a musical instrument or make ships out of paper, all these things can come in handy, too. But first and foremost, it’s important just to be there for you.

SO HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

1
MOTIVATION

Many people have a spontaneous desire to volunteer – but are you motivated enough to do it regularly? Judge the situation soberly: if you have a 10-hour workday, three kids, and sports, it may be hard to commit even an hour a month to volunteering. Remember, the most important thing is to be able to make time for it regularly (better a couple of hours every week than a whole weekend once a year). And also volunteering should never be done to the detriment of your own health, leisure and interests – such self-sacrifice will inevitably lead to burnout.

2
CHOICE OF DIRECTION

Often people choose who they will help based on their personal experience: for example, those who have had cancer, then counsel and support other people with cancer. But actually, you don’t have to have a similar life experience to be a good listener, helper and friend. Children (in orphanages, boarding schools, hospitals), adults , and the elderly (in nursing homes or just lonely citizens) also need attention. Don’t be afraid to get to know people who are nothing like you at all: meeting people from a different age group or with mental disabilities can be a very valuable experience.

3
CHOICE OF ORGANIZATION

Volunteering is a team effort: even if you meet a mentee in private, take them to the theater or invite them to your home, you are always encouraged to volunteer. This is necessary both for the proper organization of assistance and for the safety of all participants in the process: you should not let any passerby off the street to people who need support. Many volunteer organizations have been operating for many years and have gained trust – it will be much easier for you to work through them with sluggish government agencies.

4
INTERVIEW AND SELECTION

To become a volunteer, you will have to go through an interview – don’t be intimidated, it’s not an exam (or even a job interview). Volunteer staff and coordinators need to make sure you understand where you’re going. Most likely, you will have to show your passport (you will need it for a pass to the institution anyway) and some medical documents (there are restrictions on infectious diseases), in some cases you will need a criminal record certificate.

5
TRIAL VISIT

A newcomer will not be thrown in without a lifeline: before visiting an orphanage, boarding school or nursing home you will be invited for an introductory training or talk and then for a trial visit together with a group of more experienced volunteers and a supervisor. That way you can try things out and see if that’s what you want to do.

People can voluntarily decline to volunteer at any of the stages, and that’s fine. After a face-to-face interview, about 20-30% of applicants leave: they get all their questions answered and realize it’s not really what they need. If a person makes it to the institution and doesn’t leave after the first time, after getting to know the real situation on the spot, they usually stay for a long time.