Volunteer Work
Volunteer Work
Man by nature cannot live alone; rather, he needs to be within a community, and with a group of people, whether in his home, or his place of study, or his work; because social characteristics are among the characteristics of human nature, so sound instinct always calls on man to provide good and remove evil completely.
Volunteer work is considered one of the important sources of goodness, because it contributes to reflecting a positive image of society, and clarifies the extent of its prosperity, and the spread of good morals among its members. Therefore, volunteer work is a positive phenomenon, an important humanitarian activity, and one of the most important sound social manifestations. It is a civilized behavior that contributes to strengthening the values of cooperation and spreading well-being among the residents of one society.
Definition of Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is providing assistance, aid and effort in order to work to achieve good in society in general and for its individuals in particular. It is called voluntary work because a person does it voluntarily without being forced by others to do it. It is an internal will, and the dominance of the authority of good over evil, and evidence of the prosperity of society. The more positive and constructive elements there are in a society, the more it will develop and grow.
Benefits and advantages of volunteer work
Volunteer work has many benefits and advantages that make it stand out from any other type of work. Among its most important benefits and advantages are:
Volunteering is a good option to gain many important experiences that have positive results for the volunteer himself, and the institution he works for as well, as the volunteer can gain new skills or improve the skills he possesses.
Volunteer activities are considered one of the most important public activities that contribute to maintaining the development of society.
It helps volunteers to benefit from their free time, and turn it into a useful volunteer activity.
Volunteer work alleviates problems affecting society and individuals.
Volunteer work contributes to increasing the ability of volunteers to communicate effectively with other individuals.
Promoting and developing volunteer work
Announcing volunteer campaigns in various written, visual and audio media on an ongoing basis.
Identifying special achievements in volunteer campaigns and promoting them in a way that encourages young people with strength and creativity to belong to these campaigns and carry out various volunteer work.
Spreading the culture of volunteering among people through universities and schools, and also relying on educational tours about serving the local community through volunteer work activities.
Volunteer program managers must devise new methods for volunteer work that contribute to encouraging volunteers and urging them to continue volunteering, and providing the necessary resources to support them in order to achieve the desired results in the best possible way.
Identifying the areas in which volunteering can be used; so that appropriate means can be determined to deal with them. A set of goals should be set for the volunteer process, and alternative plans should be developed in case the original plans fail.
Ensure equal opportunities are provided among volunteers. Apply appropriate planning, organization, and guidance for the success of volunteer work.
Support effective communication between volunteers.
Select volunteers well according to the following main points:
Type of skills, qualifications, and responsibilities related to the task and the nature of the volunteers.
Duties required of each volunteer towards volunteer work.
The time required and allocated to implement all steps of volunteer work in a correct manner.
Forms of volunteer work
There are many forms of work and volunteer activities that contribute to achieving benefits for society, the most important of which are:
Virtual or electronic volunteering; i.e. volunteering remotely via the Internet.
Comprehensive volunteering; i.e. volunteering around the clock (seven days a week).
Short-term volunteering; i.e. volunteers work for short, pre-determined times.
Volunteering in for-profit establishments such as companies and institutions in order to gain experience or a skill.
Volunteering in government departments; where government institutions use volunteers extensively.
Volunteering in community service organizations (non-profit organizations).
Volunteer Rights
The volunteer must understand his role well in volunteer work by knowing his rights within the scope of work, which are:
Working in safe places with health specifications.
Feeling respected and trusted by those in charge of the institution responsible for volunteering.
Appreciating the volunteer's efforts by receiving positive feedback.
The volunteer has the right to use the institution's facilities.
Knowing information about the institution or organization in which he works. Providing a description of the nature of the volunteer's volunteer work, identifying the required roles and tasks, and working hours.
Providing prior training, supervision, and adequate follow-up for volunteers. Obtaining appropriate rest periods. Providing full support to each volunteer. Maintaining the personal and private data of each volunteer.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Volunteers also have rights that entail a set of responsibilities, which they must adhere to, namely:
Carrying out all tasks related to volunteer work.
Participating in planning volunteer activities, and suggesting appropriate ways to implement them.
Attending volunteer meetings, and apologizing in an appropriate manner if unable to participate.
Asking for help from volunteer supervisors when needed.
Contributing to promoting the culture of volunteer work in the community. Understanding the goals and aspirations of the organization (institution), and respecting its internal policy.
Respecting all other individuals regardless of the nature of their work or social class. Carrying out the required tasks in a correct manner.
Not using the money allocated for volunteering for personal expenses.
Maintaining constant enthusiasm while doing volunteer work.
Volunteer Work Guidelines
There are a set of guidelines that help volunteers choose their volunteer work, the most important of which are:
Searching for the best institutions and organizations that offer modern ideas in order to do the best volunteer work and activities in the community.
Thinking about the nature of the new skills that can be learned, and gaining sufficient experience from them in the field of study, or work after completing their application within the volunteer work environment.
Before joining any type of volunteer work, you must ensure full commitment to the nature of the work, and allocate part of the time to do it.
Maintaining flexibility when dealing with colleagues in volunteer work and with other individuals, and realizing that the beginning will be difficult; therefore, you must be careful to be patient at all times, and try to adapt to the nature of volunteer work in the shortest possible time.
Volunteer Work Results
There are a number of results that volunteer work contributes to achieving, which are:
Maintaining the stability and development of the local community.
Volunteers provide part of their time and effort to provide many of the needs of community members.
Benefiting from the energies of young people and exploiting them in the best and most efficient ways.
Reducing inappropriate behaviors and enhancing the feeling of self-satisfaction. Volunteer work increases the level of enthusiasm and activity among volunteers. Volunteer work reduces the spread of hostility among individuals in society.
Volunteer work contributes to refining the personality of volunteers. Helping to promote the concept of giving in society.