Many people enjoy volunteer work because it provides a fulfilling, energising break from the day-to-day and gives them renewed motivation, creativity and vision that they can carry with them into their professional lives. Some people even say that volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet interesting and like-minded people, or see different parts of the world.
Some of the most popular types of volunteer work are helping out on a farm, animal shelter or rescue organisation (counting penguins on Phillip Island, for example), community gardening, teaching children and adults, and working remotely from home on things such as computer maintenance, web development, and customer service. Other popular volunteering opportunities include teaching languages, mentoring teens or at-risk youth, and promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
You can also volunteer to help improve your health by taking part in a public health project such as providing free vaccinations or counselling on nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and family planning. Or you could support mental health projects such as providing crisis counselling, family or domestic violence assistance, and supporting victims of crime at court appearances.
It’s important to find the right type of volunteering for you and your interests, so you can enjoy yourself and get the most out of the experience. Remember that volunteers don’t have to commit long-term – studies suggest that just two or three hours a week can make an impact on both the volunteer and their chosen cause.