Ideological people often become volunteers. Those who are ready to help others for free in order to make the world a little better and kinder. Volunteers are an invaluable resource in helping social services and non-profit organizations. The brightest such organizations are the UN, the Red Cross Society, the American Peace Corps, Greenpeace.

Helping people

The main motive in the activities of volunteers is the desire to feel their own significance and usefulness to society. The field of activity of modern volunteers is very wide. They help in the preparation of actions and in their conduct, disseminate information, and participate in educational programs. Many countries have laws governing volunteering. Many volunteer organizations contribute to fostering social relationships.

This is not to say that in absolutely all cases the work of volunteers is not paid. But more often than not, volunteers work in exchange for gaining experience, knowledge and skills, establishing useful personal contacts. For people, volunteering often becomes the first step on the path to professional growth and a way to make an informed choice of the future sphere of their main activity.

The volunteer movement trains personnel for public and non-governmental organizations. Volunteers have invaluable experience social interaction and often they have a better command of the situation in their chosen field of activity than any officials. Volunteering contributes to the formation of leaders who are ready to take part in the activities of government and public structures responsible for work in social sphere.

Volunteer movement is an organization that carries out charity work in the form of gratuitous provision of services and performance of work. Volunteering begins in 1920, when the international volunteer movement was founded.

Instructions

In 1792, the Great Revolution took place in France, after which mercenaries ceased to exist. However, soon the country was attacked by Austria and the population of France began to voluntarily enroll in the ranks of the soldiers. It was at this time that the word "" came into use. This practice of collecting the army was used by many European countries. People who joined the army by on their own, began to be called volunteers.

In 1920, after the First World War, the soldiers of the warring countries organized a volunteer project. Volunteers from Germany, Austria, England and Austria came together to rebuild the ruined village. They spoke under the slogan: "It is better to work together than to fight against each other." Volunteers did not take money for their work, but they were provided with food, housing and medical services by the interested party. This event served as the basis for the organization of an international volunteer movement.

In 1938, US President Franklin Roosevelt, who became disabled due to the illness of polio, organized and sponsored volunteers to vaccinate against the disease massively. Thanks to this movement, polio is now a rare disease.

In 1960, dozens of volunteer communities emerged to build friendship between western and eastern Europe. In 1980, widespread environmental projects... Ten years later, during the XI World Conference of the Volunteer Movement, an international declaration of volunteering was adopted. It outlined the goals and objectives of volunteer organizations and the right of every man, woman and child to participate in volunteer movements. By 1998, more than 100 million people worked as volunteers, who carried out about 2,000 projects in 88 countries of the world. Currently, volunteers are working in the field of health care, protecting the environment, eradicating illiteracy and hunger, participating in the evacuation of children, the wounded and sick from the hotbed of hostilities, and helping during natural disasters. International organizations UNESCO and the United Nations also have their own volunteer offices.

Helping people

There are many social groups who need support: retirees, low-income families, orphans, disabled people, sick people and those undergoing rehabilitation, etc. Each of these groups needs different help.

To help those in need financially, volunteers organize a collection of clothes, children's toys, various kitchen utensils and everything that other volunteers are willing to donate. Then they distribute all the collected things to the families of people in need. Let me remind you that volunteers do not receive material remuneration for their work. They gain experience and moral satisfaction.

There is another kind of help. For example, orphans, and other categories that the state maintains in specialized institutions. Volunteers organize recreational and educational events. They stage performances in orphanages, organize amateur concerts in boarding schools and hospitals, conduct developmental classes for children, and even organize computer courses. Volunteers give their time and attention to people who need support.

Environmental protection and protection

Volunteering is not limited to helping people. Charitable foundations are ready, animals and order. Volunteers play a key role in such projects. How many stray cats and dogs roam the streets? If you collect at least some of them in the nursery, it will take a lot of effort to keep and care for the animals. Volunteers help to cope with this task.

There are many activities for and protection environment... For example, local ones - volunteer clean-ups, cleaning of parks, abandoned squares, city streets, natural ones, restoration of playgrounds and improvement of public places. Such projects are not easy work. Volunteers are involved in both organizing events and carrying them out.

Many organizations are engaged in the protection of wild forests and their inhabitants. For example, veterinary medicine is very developed in Australia. In thailand charitable foundations throwing forces to help wild elephants and other inhabitants of the jungle, which are suffering from industrialization or are an endangered species. Without volunteers, no such project would have been possible.

Examples of other volunteer activities

Community service is only a small part of the volunteer's work. They are attracted to educational activities both in their native countries and in other countries. Volunteers are involved in organizing various gatherings, festivals and conferences. They are also involved in the construction of socially significant facilities. Even when evacuating from places of natural disasters, help is needed. Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the implementation of all such events.

It is worth noting that this is not only ideological activity, but also experience. This area is more developed abroad. Volunteers often get the opportunity to help for more than just an idea. They acquire certain knowledge and skills. Such activities may well become the first step towards obtaining a paid position in various specialized organizations.

Sources:

• Examples, description and links to volunteer programs

"Why I became a volunteer"

A volunteer is not a job, not a hobby, not a hobby - it is a vocation. A volunteer is a person who carries out charitable activities. This is a person who does not remain indifferent to others, to their social problems... He is ready to solve them as far as he can do it. He is not indifferent to the fate of the city and the people living in it.

It seems to me that all people at least once, but were volunteers, because each person helped, for example, grandmother to cross the road. A volunteer is a fair person, he will never pass by someone else's grief and will not be afraid of difficulties.

Understanding all this, I can confidently say that I am a volunteer!

So why did I volunteer? I'll tell you a story, a year ago at the end of August, I saw that on TV there was a recruitment of schoolchildren and students to the city public association "Union of Youth Forces". I was very interested in the activities of the organization and decided to try myself in the role of a volunteer ... Before, I did not know this definition, I just did small but kind deeds every day. Coming to public organization, I realized the importance of my affairs. And I wanted to help a lot more people who really need my help.

Already in September, my first experience was the action "Tell people about the holiday" dedicated to the worker of the nuclear industry, then there was the action "Circus", in which I with a group of volunteers helped children with disabilities to find at least one day, but a holiday. In the activities of the organization, I do not limit myself to participation only in city events. During this time, I tried myself even in regional large-scale actions, such as “My home is my land, my Motherland is Russia”, “Know your rights - manage your future”, “Good minibus”, etc. But now for me the most striking and interesting is the all-Russian action "Spring Week of Kindness". This week, volunteers like me get together and hold various actions, meetings, concerts, game programs, lessons of good, etc., and I have a lot to learn from them.

Everything started spinning, I finally realized for myself that this kind of activity is for me, and now I have been an active member of the organization for the second year. For a year and a half of my active existence in the organization, I have become more serious about what is happening around me.

At the same time, I gain vast experience in organizational work, strive to gain new knowledge, learn to look at life with optimism, train leadership skills, I show myself as a citizen of my country. I spend part of my time (so precious, which is not always enough) to help other people, but I do not regret this time much.

Now I clearly understand what problems are relevant for my small closed town. And I do not stand still, I am constantly looking for ways to solve them, I am no longer afraid to say my thoughts out loud to my social circle.

If we all bring joy and positiveness, love and respect each other, then by joint efforts we will make the world a better and kinder place, and this is the mission of every person living on earth. I am convinced that selfless help to each other leads to radical changes in the hearts of people, in human relations. In myself, I observe these changes, and I am pleased that these changes are noticed by my close people. I am pleased to "infect" with the kindness of others.

I believe that you can become a volunteer at absolutely any age, there is no framework here. If you are looking for your own path, looking for what you are really interested in, then volunteering is one of better ways express yourself and realize your potential. By doing good deeds, we learn various work skills, participate in real projects, gain knowledge and professional experience. And most importantly, we do what is really interesting for us and brings great pleasure.

Volunteering is an activity performed voluntarily for the benefit of society or certain social groups, without reward. Thus, they become volunteers not for financial reasons, but for the sake of helping others and gaining invaluable life experience. After all, volunteering provides many opportunities that allow you to look at yourself and the world around you in a new way, learn something, and get acquaintances.

In this overview article, we will briefly talk about what volunteering is, what are the reasons for doing it, and we will list some popular directions and opportunities for participating in volunteer projects.

Popular volunteering options

The most popular types of volunteer activities are:

• Environmental protection: tracking poachers, landscaping reserves, keeping records of populations of rare animals.
• Providing assistance to victims of natural and military disasters: psychological support, provision of food, cooking, restoration of damaged objects, search for missing people, medical assistance.
• Observation of natural disasters and man-made industries: early warning of the population if there is a danger.
• Development of education, innovation, science; popularization of sports and active leisure: work in schools, kindergartens, schools, universities, various specialized clubs.
• Preservation of monuments of history and culture: repair work related to the reconstruction of objects.
• Organization of mass events: sports, cultural, educational, religious.
• Creating opportunities for disclosure creativity, including for people with disabilities: holding exhibitions, master classes, lectures.

Basic principles of social volunteering

Social volunteering is participation in social projects on a voluntary basis. Examples of such projects are assistance to the homeless, the elderly, and rehabilitation measures for people with disabilities. Principles and precepts of social volunteering:

• Social volunteering is voluntary, no one has the right to force you to do what you don’t want, don’t subscribe to and don’t agree with.
• Do not do for a person what he can do himself without external help, do not live someone else's life.
• Be free, be yourself even when you help others.
• A volunteer should not only give a part of himself, but in return receive support, care, positive emotions and new experiences.
• A volunteer always has the right to say no.

6 reasons to become a volunteer

Why is being a volunteer cool and what can you get from it for yourself?

1.Saturated language practice

Volunteering is a real opportunity to practice and improve your skills in. You most likely know from your own experience that the environment has a tremendous impact on the development of certain characteristics. And if you constantly spend your time in the company of foreigners and solve all problems exclusively in their native language or international, then the results will not be long in coming.

2. Real friends and pleasant acquaintances

People inadvertently reveal their positive and negative sides with collective activities. It is here that the true essence of man becomes clear. Living together, working and relaxing takes off the masks from people and makes them closer to each other. Thus, the boundaries of the world are erased for an active volunteer, the whole earth becomes his real home, since there are friends in different parts of the planet who love you with all their hearts and are looking forward to visiting you.

3. Experience in non-formal education

In such projects, there is a constant exchange of life experience and knowledge between the participants. Therefore, it is quite realistic to master any skills in a small amount of time.

The type of program chosen, of course, plays an important role. Here is a grain of what a volunteer can learn: the culinary arts of the peoples of the world, the technology of restoration of structures, archeology, the nuances of interaction with different social and age groups people, communication on foreign languages, photography, video filming, language teaching, veterinary medicine, hiking, mountaineering, winemaking, brewing.

4. Future prospects

The fact of participation in the volunteer movement significantly expands the portfolio, since at the end of many programs certificates are awarded with a list of the participants' personal achievements. This will be a significant plus when applying to schools, when receiving grants for studying abroad, etc.

5. Immersion in the culture and life of the host country / city

Every nation has an exceptional and unique way of life. During such adventures, an opportunity opens up to fully experience the culture of the host country.

6. Leaving your comfort zone

Nothing excites the consciousness and invigorates the soul so much as a complete change in the amplitude of life. During voluntary activities Amazing things will happen: immersion in new locations, synthesis with previously unfamiliar cultures, a critical restructuring from the native language to foreign languages ​​and expanding the circle of acquaintances at times.

Volunteering Opportunities

There are hundreds of options and projects for volunteering. Each of them is original in its own way, therefore, in order not to get lost in their diversity, you should first evaluate everything and understand what you want. Consider your interests, try to understand which activities can bring you happiness, and which, on the contrary, will make you feel unhappy.

And after that, you should find out all the details about the proposed types of volunteer programs from the relevant organizations.

In Russia on this moment Volunteer programs in Europe, the USA and Asia are quite popular, there are many opportunities in large cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, where dozens of entertaining events are held every day.

In Europe - European Voluntary Service

EVS allows you to use your free time for the good of the whole world. It is noteworthy that this program is well funded and covers all expenses of the volunteer, including air tickets in both directions. The possible term for participation is up to 12 months, and the allowed age is 18-30 years.

IN USA

There are tons of volunteering opportunities in the US as well, here are some helpful links on the topic:

A place: California, Yosemite.

Conditions: reimbursement of expenses for food and accommodation with a work visa.

Requirements: it is advisable to study or work in the field of nature research.

Duration: 2-6 months.

A place: Minnesota, Vince Shoots.

Conditions: lack of electricity, telephone and running water. Meals and accommodation are compensated, flight and visa expenses are not.

Requirements: age from 18 years.

Duration: May-September.

A place: Texas and California.

Conditions: free accommodation and meals.

Requirements: proficiency in English, Spanish.

Duration: any, year-round acceptance of applications.

In Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg):

The volunteer movement is based on the principle that is old as the world:if you want to feel like a human being - help another In Russia, the volunteer movement began to emerge in the late 80s, although if you look into history, it should be recognized that it has always existed, for example, in the form of a service of sisters of mercy, Timurov's and pioneer movements, all kinds of societies for the protection of nature and monuments However, modern development the volunteer movement has received in connection with the growing number of social problems, in the solution of which, in the current economic situation, volunteers are indispensable Frequently asked Questions:

1.Who are volunteers?

2. Why do people become volunteers?

3. Why hire volunteers if there are professionals?

4.What does the volunteer movement start with?

5.How is the volunteer movement organized?

6. What do volunteers do for prevention and youth work?

7. Who can volunteer?

8.How long do volunteers work?

9. Who organizes the work of youth in the volunteer movement?

10.How to retain volunteers?

11. What are the ways to reward volunteers?

12. What do you need for volunteer work?

Who are volunteers?

These are people who are willing to voluntarily spend their energy and time for the benefit of society or a specific person. Synonymous with " volunteer" is the word " volunteer"... Volunteers are sometimes referred to as community assistants, freelance volunteers, assistants, leaders, mediators.

The common thing that unites them is voluntariness (money is not the main motive)

The difference in the name is mainly determined by the methods used in their work. We call volunteers non-professional volunteers who have been trained in a special program and help carry out prevention activities ( conducting trainings, preparing and conducting mass actions, station games, participating in the development of printing products, etc.) As a rule, volunteers are equal in age and social status to the target group ( that is, they are mainly adolescents and young people).

Why do people become volunteers?

The reasons can be different, and here are the main :

lThe most important thing is IDEA, a noble idea that reflects the importance and principles of activity. It is the idea that determines whether a person will understand what he is doing and why, whether he will have pride, self-respect and satisfaction from work and results of activity.

l Internal psychological need to be needed... The volunteer movement allows you to realize this need, to feel your usefulness.

l The need for communication. If a cool, fun company is selected and it is interesting and comfortable in it, then you want to be there. The circle of communication is expanding. This is often the main reason for working as a volunteer.

l Interest. Volunteering is often associated with non-standard approaches and new opportunities.

l Entourage. Beginners are more interested in the visual appeal of the movement ( caps, T-shirts, badges, etc.) than an idea, goal or end result, especially for children and adolescents.

l Career, authority and self-realization. This includes the opportunity to improve your social position in a career or interpersonal sphere. Sometimes the career of a psychologist and teacher begins in the volunteer movement. As a volunteer, you can make new connections, learn new things, and thereby gain respect and weight in society. Often, it is in the volunteer movement that some abilities are manifested, for example, leadership or organizational.

l Creative opportunities. You can prove yourself in a variety of activities, regardless of age or existing profession - journalism, teaching, management, speaking, script writing, design.

l Solving your problems. If the profile of the organization coincides with your problems, then this is the way out. If you feel like a worthless little guy, go volunteer, you can change the situation there. There are problems with communication - go to volunteers, you will find new friends and like-minded people.

l Leisure. Time can be wasted in two ways - usefully and not. The first option is a volunteer movement.

l Protecting your interests, in the upholding of which the support of officials, organizations or simply initiative people is required.

l Confirmation of their independence and maturity. By becoming a volunteer and working on serious problems, people prove their maturity, independence and originality to those around them.

l Resource opportunities. Working as volunteers, people become owners of related benefits - trips, interesting books and films, new connections, Internet resources, computers, etc.

The desire to help those in need is the main, but not the only motive for participating in corporate volunteering. Employees of companies help people also because they see such experience and personal benefit. Volunteering allows them to fulfill themselves, build relationships with colleagues and improve their reputation in the company. Many volunteers are counting on recognition among colleagues, albeit a purely symbolic one. “People want their activities to be noticed and said“ thank you ”by those who are not obliged to say it, even if in reality it will be just a clap on the shoulder in the smoking room and a short“ cool! ”,” Explained Ivan Klimov.

Volunteering in large companies was studied within the framework of a large-scale project of HSE scientists "Corporate volunteering in Russia: assessment of the state and recommendations for development" *.

About altruism and self-realization

Corporate volunteering would take root in companies worse if it remained an initiative from the “top”. But most of the volunteers help people not because “the bosses want it”, but out of personal motives. A lot of things work at once. This is both an altruistic desire to help, and a character warehouse - activity and responsibility, and life values... Among them are self-development and the desire for novelty. Finally, there are purely pragmatic considerations at work.

The types of assistance in this case can be very different: from collecting things to free consultations- pro bono services (areas of corporate volunteering are indicated in Figure A of Appendix 1).

Volunteers also said that their own experience led them to volunteering. “Tragic events have taken place in my life, after which the angle of perception has changed ... - said the respondent. - I wanted to somehow help people in difficult situations: with money, deeds, just a kind word. "

Picture 1. Motives for participating in corporate volunteering.

Volunteers see social work as personal, individualistic bonuses. The respondents tried to improve their qualifications, develop certain qualities, usefully spend their free time, "refresh" their view of the world. Corporate volunteering is also an opportunity to communicate with colleagues in a different environment. This allows "to find like-minded people and strengthen working ties," said one of the volunteers. For others, the important thing is the chance of "personal acquaintance with the leaders."

Another group of motives is determined by external priorities. Volunteers talk about the importance of their work for the company / country.

Recognition Needed

HSE researchers have found another reason to become a volunteer. These are reputational dividends from participation in charity. This motive was revealed, as they say, in a roundabout way. Volunteers were asked about problems social work... During the interview, it turned out that it is important for some volunteers to receive some more pragmatic bonuses - in the form of career advancement and rewards. Someone lacks the feeling of a “common cause”: the company's management does not participate in volunteering, and the areas of activity are not close.

In fact, firms often lack incentives that not only involve people in volunteering, but also show it. special attitude to volunteers. It is no secret that most need external "positive confirmation" of their activities, the researchers explained. This is how people feel that the company is interested in them as employees.

Figure 2. Difficulties and problems of participation in corporate philanthropy.

Source: research "Corporate volunteering in Russia: assessment of the state and recommendations for development."

It is necessary to popularize volunteering "at least at the management level," one of the respondents emphasized: not to the benefit of the main work process. ”Volunteers should also be stimulated by certificates - as recognition. The volunteers considered a “detailed and positive” description of the results of the campaigns to be significant. “This measure is significant for increasing the symbolic capital (respect, recognition),” explained Ivan Klimov.

Figure 3. Expectations of volunteers regarding rewards for the work done.

Source: the same.

Success plus "a sense of fellowship"

“Corporate volunteering is a kind of school of self-awareness and responsibility,” Klimov believes. Volunteers are convinced that their well-being depends on themselves. Collective action is also important to them. They are ready to unite with other people. Essentially, volunteers make their personal success a property of “their” group / community. “Corporate volunteering teaches people to go beyond the limits of everyday life, to find those with whom they are interested,” the researcher is convinced.

The combination of all these attitudes, according to many experts, is found only in "high-resource" groups of the population. At the same time, it is not so much the size of income that matters as a good education, competitiveness in the labor market and satisfaction of basic life needs. Such people are usually characterized by civic engagement.

Volunteers tend to be civic

For the majority of those surveyed, corporate volunteering is not the beginning, let alone the end of the story. Many of them had experience of helping others and participating in socially significant events before that. “I have always supported some environmental initiatives,” said one respondent. “Since 2010, I have worked in the department for the development of volunteerism in one of the youth centers, since 2013 I have been doing this work in Vyborg,” another respondent recalled. The third trained volunteers for the Olympic Games in Sochi. The informants actively participated both in social events of their companies (71%) and independently or with a group of acquaintances outside the company (51% each).

Most often, the respondents helped those in need with money (75%), things and products (60%). Employees also provided assistance with personal participation - they organized events (58%), looked after children and the elderly (44%), helped in everyday life (33%), etc.

Civic self-organization is also common among corporate volunteers. 29% had experience in public speaking, 14% worked in non-profit organizations... “Corporate volunteers are the“ core ”of civil society - they are distinguished by their activeness and variety of practices of civic participation,” the researchers concluded.

97% of those surveyed intend to help other people in the future: with things, money or personal participation. At the same time, 79% are certainly ready for this, and 19% “admit” such a possibility. “In any case, I will continue to do [charity] in one format or another, because it is important for me to help people who are less fortunate than me,” one of the volunteers said. “If ... the [volunteering] programs are closed or I leave the company, I plan to continue volunteering to the best of my ... ability,” concluded another volunteer.