Volunteering: Beyond an extracurricular activity

Volunteering promotes skill-building among the youth. While all kinds of extracurricular activities look great on resumes, what sets volunteering apart is that it provides a multitude of experiences.

"Volunteering is not something you have to do, but something you should do. It helps you define your interests extensively," shared Adnan Hossain, the founding chairman of It's Humanity Foundation. Taking up specific roles at voluntary organisations allows one to enhance their management and other professional skills needed for different careers.

Including volunteer work on a resume also demonstrates that the candidate is passionate, positive, and motivated by a cause that does not offer any monetary incentive.

Volunteering teaches people empathy, compassion, and a sense of responsibility. Photos: Courtesy of It’s Humanity Foundation & Awareness 360

 "I think volunteering is important because it gives people a sense of responsibility towards their community. It teaches people empathy and compassion and helps them understand societal barriers," shared Tahiya Islam, the executive director of Volunteer Stories (VS), a platform that shares the experiences of young volunteers, inspiring others to join different causes.

Networking and making new friends is another advantage of volunteering. "When I started communicating with different people and learning about their cultures and lives, I got over my shyness, and craved to learn more about different people," shared Rijve Arefin, the co-founder of Awareness 360, a global platform that empowers the youth to build community service projects in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Last year, they launched a youth development programme, which enrolled over 200 young people from 38 countries. During that, volunteers learned about different concepts and skills from professionals. They have also launched a children fellowship programme for younger volunteers.

Many volunteering opportunities also provide training. For example, Footsteps has an extensive changemaker leadership programme that conducts workshops, putting individuals in real-life scenarios for six months. Another social organisation, Swayong, organises professional sessions to equip their members with important skills.

That being said, proper time management is a challenge for volunteers, especially students who need to juggle their academic life with other commitments. In order to support such students, most voluntary organisations conduct their meetings, events, and activities on weekends.

"As a student, it was very difficult for me to manage time for voluntary activities, but nowadays it is getting tougher as I have begun my professional life," shared Mahnaz Zabin, a dentist volunteering for Care for Paws.

While reaping the benefits of volunteering, people need to learn how to set boundaries and know where to stop. At the end of the day, the experiences are supposed to create a sense of fulfilment, not additional pressure.

The author is a student of IBA, DU and a freelance journalist who likes reading, scribbling, and blogging. Email: mislammonamee@gmail.com