Volunteering for teenagers; an opportunity for grooming and growth
People volunteer for a myriad of reasons. Some want to gain experience, acquire new skills, meet new people, or expand their network of contacts as a way to get a new job or start a career. Others just want to give back to their community, to help a friend or promote a worthwhile activity. In this article, we will be showing you why volunteering for worthy causes as a teenager is an opportunity for growth.
Connection to Community
One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.
Acquiring a Great Skillset
It takes more than a great skill set to build a successful career. Beyond what you know, it is also about who you know. As a volunteer, you have the flexibility and freedom to move around an organisation and donate your time to areas that truly interest you. This also allows you to reach a number of people, many of which may be key decision makers. Use this time to build a strong social network. Not only is this a great way to connect with your community, but you’ll also build positive relationships by building bonds of trust and developing a deeper respect for diversity. Volunteering can help you hone your leadership skills and people skills.
Personal well-being
According to the Mental Health Foundation volunteering can bring psychological as well as physiological benefits. When you help others, it promotes positive physiological changes in the brain associated with happiness. Being a part of a social network leads to a feeling of belonging. Face-to-face activities such as volunteering at a drop-in centre can help reduce loneliness and isolation. Doing things for others helps maintain good health. Positive emotions reduce stress and boost our immune system, and in turn can protect us against disease. Finally, seeing the benefits of our volunteering, such as a happy group of young people or a clean field after a litter pick, can help us feel satisfied in a job well done. So much so that many people who research volunteering challenge the idea of altruism, as the act of helping makes us feel good and therefore can not really be said to be truly altruistic.
So, if you have already identified a career path, you need to start building the skill set necessary for that path. Volunteering is one of the most accessible ways to do that! So, if you are yet to start volunteering, you should! Develop a volunteering plan, identify worthy causes and inform your parents/guardians about your volunteering plan.
