10 Reasons Why You Should Volunteer This Summer

“Making change from the comfort of your own home - it couldn’t be easier!”

By Soni Kaur, Marketing Manager at We Make Change

Summer is the period most people take to reflect on how they use their time. In recent years, millennials have pursued volunteering experiences in different countries. Whilst volunteering abroad has been the common option, this has certainly taken a shift with the rise of the COVID19 pandemic. With travel restrictions across the globe, this has made it difficult to volunteer abroad. So what does this mean for summer volunteering? How can individuals use their skills this summer and why should they volunteer? This blog will outline 10 reasons why you should volunteer this summer and how you can create change.

10 reasons why you should volunteer this summer: 2021 edition

Flexibility - your time, your place
Many of us have had to adapt to remote education, work, social life, and more following the pandemic. Moving away from in-person activities to virtual life is now the new normal and many organisations are opting for long-term remote working or education. Similarly, remote volunteering has risen with more Social Enterprises offering remote volunteer roles with the same impact as in-person opportunities. All you need is a laptop, internet connection, and a passion to create change. Most remote volunteering opportunities are easy to sign up for with a simple application form. Travel restrictions may be preventing individuals from travelling abroad to pursue their volunteering experience this summer, but remote volunteering offers ChangeMaker’s the chance to make change in the new normal world. Making change from the comfort of your own home - it couldn’t be easier!
Enhance your CV
The pandemic has had major effects on the job market. In particular, young people are finding it more difficult to find jobs because they ‘lack experience.’ This term is often thrown about regarding young people, yet this is the generation with the most power to make an impact. Skilled based volunteering can help individuals enhance their CV with experiences and key skills enabling them to find opportunities for their future. Employers also value volunteering and community involvement on candidates' resumes for their proactiveness, innovation, and passion. Opportunities like this really let YOU make the experience what it is!
3. Develop your skills
Whether you’re looking to develop new skills or existing ones, volunteering can help you polish your skills whilst giving you the opportunity to understand your personal strengths and weaknesses. Volunteering during the summer allows you to spend time to self-analyse where you would like to develop your skills further and execute on these. These days there are many skilled-based volunteering opportunities that seek to leverage professional skills such as writing, marketing, research, and more, meaning ChangeMakers can learn new skills that will really help benefit their CV and personal development!

4. Meet new people
Volunteering will introduce you to an array of individuals from different backgrounds. Some may be recent graduates, full-time employees, or even retired. The exposure to different people should not be underplayed as ChangeMakers are able to network with like-minded individuals who care about the same interests and causes - this has sometimes even led to ChangeMaker’s connecting with their future employer! Meeting new people during the pandemic has undoubtedly been difficult. However, as we have adapted effectively to this new normal we’ve created lasting relationships remotely with people across the world, and this is one of the most powerful tools to make a change.

5. Try something new
When studying or working full time it can often be difficult to try something new. A lot of us often use the excuse of ‘time’ but when volunteering you are allowed to test the water with different skills, careers, events and overall opportunities. In particular, coming out of university and not knowing what to do is a common feeling amongst most millennials. Volunteering offers individuals the chance to try out various career paths in the summer before leaping into a full time career.
6. Give back to society
Sometimes it can be difficult to take a moment to appreciate and give back to society because of how fast paced our professional and personal lives may be. Taking some time, whether that be 2-8 hours a week to volunteer for a cause you care about, can make the biggest difference to society. Giving back also provides you with a sense of purpose and fulfillment of helping the world we live in.

7. Personal achievement
Volunteering provides you with a sense of personal achievement, especially while doing it in summer. Taking the time out of your summer can help you feel more productive as you do something positive to create change. These little boosts, especially in times of COVID19 can make all the difference!
8. Gain a whole new perspective
Working alongside like-minded individuals and Social Enterprises can enable you to understand different perspectives of the world. Volunteering for Social Enterprises allows you to gain a unique outlook of the social impact sector and also allows you to understand the issues they care about.
9. Make change happen
Volunteering means you will be creating change in the community and world. Most Social Enterprises focus on achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are aimed to help create a better world for everyone. By volunteering, you will be part of the journey of achieving these goals and creating lasting change. No matter how much time you have, small or big, there is always something you can do to make a change!
10. It’s fun!
Overall, volunteering is a fun experience with lots of different opportunities to socialise virtually (or eventually in person!) Working on different projects will allow you to have fun, meet new people, and develop your skills whilst creating change.
How to get involved:

If you would like to use your skills to volunteer, you can join a project here.
If you are running or starting up a Social Enterprise or Non-governmental organisation dedicated to making a change, you can find the skilled volunteers you need to grow your impact for free here.
Contact us to find out how your employees can make a difference and create a lasting change in your organisation here.

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