Volunteering is about offering your time and energy to do something worthwhile that benefits your community. Whether you’re helping out at a local soup kitchen, tutoring children in reading, or collecting items for donation, volunteering can lead to personal fulfillment, a stronger sense of belonging, and a more connected and vibrant community.

Not only does volunteering offer a great opportunity to give back to the community, it has many personal benefits as well. Let’s take a look at the different ways volunteering can be beneficial.

Types of Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience that allows people to give back to their local community. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available, from helping out at your local hospital to teaching classes at your local library. Whatever type of volunteer opportunity you are looking to pursue, there are sure to be plenty of options available.

One of the more popular types of volunteering opportunities is working with charitable organisations. These organisations provide much-needed assistance for people who are in need, whether it is providing meals for families in need or helping those living in poverty. Some of the more well-known charitable organisations include Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and United Way.

Other types of volunteer opportunities include working on environmental projects, tutoring disadvantaged students, helping out in animal shelters and working with children’s organisations. Volunteering is also a great way to gain job skills and experience. Many employers view volunteer work as an invaluable asset when considering potential employees.

No matter which type of volunteer opportunity you choose, there are specific skills that are required. For example, if you are working with a charity, you may need to be able to communicate effectively, manage finances, or know how to use computers. Working with children may require a special set of skills, such as the ability to be patient and understanding.

No matter what type of volunteer opportunity you are looking for, there are sure to be plenty of options available in your local area. Giving back to your community can be incredibly rewarding, so make sure to take the time to explore all the different opportunities that are available.

Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering can offer many psychological and emotional benefits for individuals and for the wider community. It can not only help to improve general mental health, but it can also create a sense of fulfilment, connectedness and purpose.

Participating in volunteer activities exposes individuals to a wide range of new experiences, challenges and people. This can provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop new skills while also having a positive impact on self-esteem, stress levels, and overall mental wellbeing.

By focusing on helping others, volunteers often find that they are able to forget their own worries, preoccupations and day-to-day pressures. Doing something for someone else can provide a sense of purpose and connection, which can be highly beneficial for mental wellbeing.

Research has shown that volunteering can even help to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Studies have revealed that volunteers are both more satisfied with their lives and have higher self-esteem than their non-volunteering counterparts.

There are also many social psychological benefits associated with volunteering. Individuals may find that they become more empathetic and understanding when exposed to a diverse range of people and situations. Working as part of a team can also help to build trust and create meaningful connections.

In summary, there are numerous mental health benefits associated with volunteering. Not only can it help to improve mental wellbeing, but it can also offer a sense of purpose, connection and fulfilment.

Physical Health Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to improve your physical health. Not only is it a great way to get some physical activity, it also gives your mental health a boost. Here are just a few of the ways that volunteering can help you get fit and stay healthy.

More Exercise

When you volunteer, you are likely to be moving around more than usual. This can mean either lots of walking or in some cases even running, which helps you increase your overall fitness levels. Additionally, if you are volunteering for a charity such as Habitat for Humanity, you may be participating in activities that require some physical labor — anything from clearing a forest to helping build a house — which can be great exercise.

Boost Your Mood

One of the most powerful benefits of volunteering is the ability to make an impact on the lives of those in need — this alone can give you a sense of purpose, validation, and joy. When you feel good about yourself, your mood is lifted and this can help improve physical health.

Meet New People

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Having a strong social support network has numerous psychological and physiological benefits, including reduced stress and improved immunity which can ultimately lead to better physical health.

Engaging in Meaningful Activities

Volunteering can provide you with a sense of meaning and purpose. When you engage in activities you care about, you become more motivated and dedicated to the task at hand — which can make it easier to stay active and physically healthy.

The Social Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering offers many social benefits. It is a great way to make meaningful connections with members of your community that you may not otherwise encounter. Connecting with the people around you can create strong bonds and friendships, helping to strengthen your social networks.

Volunteering within groups or organisations often creates a sense of camaraderie and encourages teamwork. This can help to bring together individuals from all walks of life with different backgrounds, skills and perspectives. Working together as a team to achieve a common goal can create a sense of purpose and pride amongst volunteers.

By taking part in volunteer activities, you can also gain valuable knowledge and develop your own skillset. Working alongside experienced volunteers and professionals can help to teach you new skills and offer fresh insights into different areas of your chosen field.

Volunteering can also help to build confidence and give you the chance to use your existing knowledge and skills in a new setting. Whether it’s managing an event or running your own project, you can make a real difference in your community.

Finally, volunteering can provide a much-needed break from the everyday routine of work and studies. Taking time away from everyday life to focus solely on giving back can be incredibly rewarding and can help to build a stronger sense of connection to the community in which you live.

Financial Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it can also have some financial benefits too. Even though volunteers are not paid for their services, they can still gain valuable skills and experience, which can open up new career opportunities or other forms of financial benefit.

Participating in volunteer activities can give you transferable skills that employers value. These might include communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership. Volunteering can also expose you to new experiences and networks, and may even help you to land a job in the field you are volunteering in.

Some organisations offer small stipends or reimbursements for travel expenses to their volunteers. This kind of arrangement can help to offset costs related to volunteering, and could help to make it more accessible to those on a tight budget.

When you volunteer, you can also take advantage of tax breaks. Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to deduct certain expenses related to your volunteering, such as membership fees, uniforms, or travel costs. Be sure to check with your tax advisor or the organisation you’re volunteering with to see what deductions you qualify for.

By volunteering your time, you can also save money in other ways. For example, some not-for-profit community groups and organisations may offer discounts on their products and services, or even free classes or workshops, as an incentive for volunteers.

Overall, volunteering can offer a range of financial benefits. From new skills and career opportunities, to tax deductions and discounts, it pays in more ways than one.

Conclusion

Volunteering is an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience that has numerous benefits. It provides the opportunity to give back to the community and have a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Volunteering can also have a range of benefits for our own mental and physical health, as well as providing us with financial opportunities and social connections. By giving some of your time to volunteer, you can bring about positive change to yourself and others.

No matter what type of volunteer work you choose to do, there are multiple benefits to be gained from the experience. It can be both emotionally and physically rewarding, offering a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction. Whether you are looking to improve your health, make new contacts, or just want to give back to your community, volunteering is an excellent way to achieve these aims. So why not give it a try?

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Who are volunteers? Are they special people? How do I join them?

What is their goal? The main rule is that volunteers help free of charge, from the bottom of their hearts. Pensioners, people with disabilities, homeless people, children without parental care, people with serious illnesses, both physical and psychological, need support. Animals, forests, climate, water bodies need protection and care. In this manual we will tell you how to become a volunteer and start taking care of people around you.

Who can become a volunteer

Visiting orphanages and hospices, helping in hospitals, taking care of homeless animals, searching for missing people, saving historical and architectural monuments – that’s what volunteers do.

Anyone, regardless of age, can become a volunteer. Only minors must have permission from their parents, and adolescents under 14 years of age must be accompanied by a relative or official representative.

What qualities a volunteer should have

To help neighbors and nature, a person must have a number of qualities.

• Social engagement. Without this, it will be difficult for you to really get involved in volunteering. Laziness and apathy will pull back, to entertainment, clubs, casinos, friends, a fridge and a couch.
• Altruism. Who are the volunteers? First and foremost, altruists. This means that you are willing to put the interests of others before your own and spend your energy and time helping those in need.
• Tolerance. A volunteer needs to be tolerant of others. He or she should help people regardless of their views, values, or judgments. Restraint, courtesy, and understanding all encompass the concept of tolerance.
• Empathy. Before you volunteer, make sure you are friendly and empathetic toward older people or children and know how to share their concerns and worries. Empathy, or simply put, emotional sensitivity, is a quality a volunteer cannot do without.
• Responsibility. Volunteering means that you make a moral obligation to make the life of another person or your ward a little better and more comfortable. Make this responsibility dear, and then good things will come back a hundredfold.

The Principles of Volunteering

Volunteer work is based on a set of rules:

• Voluntariness. A volunteer never takes money from those in need and helps people in an unselfish way.
• Independence. A volunteer is guided by the needs of others, not the people themselves.
• Humanity. A volunteer is always ready to help any person in need, regardless of circumstances, personal emotions or sympathies.
• Impartiality. A volunteer cares about everyone, guilty or innocent.
• Neutrality. A volunteer doesn’t take sides, he or she is always above the fray, doesn’t go into conflict.

Where do I learn about volunteer projects?

There are many charitable foundations and nonprofit organizations that volunteers can work with. But finding out about them is sometimes not easy. There are millions of different projects, and hundreds of new ones open every day because there are so many requests for help, most of which you can find out about on their respective pages, or already directly from community organizations.

Everyone can find a project of interest – the resource center offers a variety of volunteer activities.

In addition, you can register on one of the many volunteer project sites. There, too, information is published about volunteer events, projects and vacancies, you can sign up for thematic educational courses, become a member of programs of charitable organizations, etc. There is a huge number of applications on the portal – it is easy to find something appropriate, it’s kind of like a game in a slot machine – there are always millions of different options.

To find volunteer jobs and projects near your home or place of work, you can use the map of socially useful services.

Do volunteers have responsibilities

Although volunteering is voluntary, the person who decides to do it has certain responsibilities:

• Not to disclose personal data, state and trade secrets, which are obtained while engaged in volunteering, and if necessary to observe the full regime of anonymity;
• Draw up and sign a civil contract between the charitable foundation and the volunteer;
• To abide by the terms of that contract;
• To help those in need, to be helpful to citizens in difficult situations, and to show compassion.

What volunteer opportunities does volunteering open

Volunteering offers a number of opportunities, from participation in socially significant projects and events to personal growth and exciting business trips.

All kinds of volunteering will be a great addition to your resume when looking for a job, applying to a university, or applying for an educational or project grant. Caring for others speaks to your awareness and social activism, which is valued in our society.

And as a volunteer you will make many useful acquaintances and contacts, improve your communication skills, get experience in non-formal education, immerse yourself in the culture and life of a new place or host country, and maybe even improve your foreign language and broaden your horizons.

To get a better idea of what volunteering is all about, try it out! Remember: there will always be those in the world who need help and support.

Sometimes you want to do something useful, not for the money, but out of your heart. People with this motivation are called volunteers.

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Volunteering is not only a way of helping others, it is also a way of life. You give it your time, knowledge and abilities to help someone who may need help. By assisting others, we can also help ourselves, meet new people, create new bonds, give to our community, and do the greater good. While volunteering, we become close to the ones we are helping. Sometimes, these interactions can turn into lifetime-worth friendships. It can also improve our existing relationships and make them stronger. Meeting new people, colleagues and those who need aid, will also improve our social skills, and make us more civil, caring and giving. Through volunteering, we can develop new friendships, while we are doing good for our community. There are different types of volunteering and many ways to help others. So let us look at what ways you can be more effective and helpful.

Main types of volunteering

As mentioned previously, there are several types of volunteering jobs. It is very important to choose the right type of job for yourself to effectively do it. For example, if you cannot stand seeing sick people lying on medical beds, then working at the hospital would not be the exact right choice for you to start your career as a volunteer.

• Volunteering at a hospital. Hospitals offer us endless ways to help. It benefits the volunteer, the patients, the families, and the hospital workers. We meet new people, learn new skills, and help patients to get through their illnesses and tough times. Learning new skills is a valuable benefit, and if you plan to have a medical career in the future, it will also give you precious experience. It’s completely up to you how much time you will spend on volunteering each day, week or month. You can work with hospital staff, spend time with patients, do administrative tasks with staff, assist doctors during operations, etc. If you decide to work with patients, there are many ways how you can help them: you can read them, deliver some treats, escort them on a walk and keep them company etc. But before you decide to go with the hospital volunteering, do some research first. Contact local healthcare organisations and ask them about hospital or medical volunteering opportunities. Make a list of hospitals and clinics based on your interests and location. You can also work in hospitals abroad or join medical missions.
• Volunteer for animals. Help those who cannot speak for themselves – volunteer for animals. Unfortunately, we live in a world where animals are treated without respect, abused and killed. If you love animals and do not want to see them suffer, abused or even extinct, then you should think about volunteering for animals. From shelters to wildlife sanctuaries, there are hundreds of options for how you can be of help. In emergencies, such as natural disasters or acute animal threats, you can provide immediate assistance. It is also a type of volunteering where you can stay in your hometown or travel to another continent. Volunteering for animals includes: dog walking and kennel duties, working with stray and feral cats, working at a community farm, working with wildlife, helping at the zoo, looking after injured animals and many more.
• Volunteering for people suffering from addiction. There are so many reasons why people become addicted, and so much more substances and things people become addicted to. Some suffer from drugs, some from alcohol, and some become addicted to computer and casino games. Volunteering with such vulnerable groups takes accuracy, patience, kindness and love. There are a lot of organisations which work with addicts and help them recover and get back to everyday life.
• Volunteering in church. Volunteering in church benefits members of the congregation and the church itself. Church volunteers help the church to do the work that staff members cannot accomplish. They use their time and talents for community service, fulfilling their desire to help others while ensuring the local church can direct more funds to its mission. There are many ways how you can help the church, including building up youth programs, hosting community events, setting up virtual services, working with children, helping to feed the poor etc.
• Volunteer with refugees. We live in a challenging and complicated world. There are many countries where people suffer from hunger, war, and poverty. In search of survival and better life, they become refugees. You can join different NGOs or organisations like UNHCR or UN to help with refugees. You travel abroad and work at a refugee camp or look for organisations near your home and start helping people.

Conclusion

The mentioned above types are the most common, but there are many other ways to help. It is not always an easy job to do, especially when you deal with people who were hurt, abused, and traumatised, and you get to know their horrors. Being mostly about benefits, volunteering helps both those who help and those who are helped.

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For the EU, volunteering is an expression of active citizenship, a learning path and an essential activity for the development of democratic values, human dignity and equality.

Volunteering can also help you in finding your next job opportunity and the EU has created different tools to help you in the process! 

Participation in a volunteering project is a significant achievement for any young person. It is an opportunity for developing social and personal competences and gaining valuable professional experience, contributing to working in multicultural teams, solving creative problems, using a foreign language in managing everyday tasks, living independently in another European country and much more. 

These experiences help the participants with their personal growth, as well as with finding opportunities for their future careers and learning paths. 

Volunteering experiences: a strong added value when looking for a job

If you have taken part in a volunteering experience, at the local or international level, always make sure to reflect upon the learning that came out of it. Employers usually appreciate such experiences. 

During an interview and on your CV, it’s always good to have the capacity to explain the learning outcomes of a volunteering experience. Employers especially value transversal skills such as adaptability, autonomy, reliability, creativity, sense of initiative. How did you develop those skills and many others, during your volunteering experience?

As you would do for a work experience, it’s important to be able to detail the missions carried out, the skills and knowledge acquired. If you can connect those skills to the requirements of the job advert, even better!

Volunteering: a work experience in your Europass CV

The EU has created a free online tool for you to create a Curriculum Vitae that is used across Europe and that takes into account your lifelong learning experiences, the Europass CV. This tool can support you in building a dynamic career and in recognising your competences, professional and transversal.  

According to Europass, volunteering activities, paid or unpaid placements or traineeships should be described in the “Work Experience” section of your CV. You can also add the competences acquired during a volunteering experience under the “Personal Skills” section. 

Besides, for volunteering experiences abroad, the Europass CV can be complemented by a Europass-Mobility annex. This document has to be filled in by the institution that sent you abroad. 

Recognition of volunteering: the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+

The Youthpass Certificate is available to all Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps participants in all project formats. Since its launch in 2007, over 1 million Youthpass certificates have been issued to participants!

The purpose is to enable participants to better present and communicate the learning outcomes they have acquired during their participation in the programmes. It also contributes to raise awareness and recognise the results of young people’s learning and their participation in EU youth programmes.

Youthpass should be understood as a process, it is a constant reflection that helps to monitor the participants’ learning. Organisations that use the Youthpass Certificate endeavour to improve the quality and visibility of their work and to recognise non-formal and informal learning across Europe.

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The key to success is to choose a volunteering opportunity that matches your skills, interests and availability. Once this is clear, you can start your search for a quality volunteering opportunity.

Volunteering can be an unforgettable and rewarding experience, but with so many opportunities available it’s important to be careful with your choice. The quality of your experience will determine how you will benefit from this great human adventure.

Set your goals

There are many ways one can volunteer. You can volunteer in your community, online or on the other side of the planet. You can work with refugees, elderly people and children… or for instance help in disaster areas or with greening your environment. So many options!

Once you decide to volunteer, the first thing is to ask yourself:

• What are my goals and expectations?
• How much time do I have available?
• What kind of tasks would I like to undertake?
• Which skills can I offer?

Eurodesk has developed an online quiz to help you evaluate what’s the most suitable volunteering opportunity for you. At the end, different examples of programmes will be provided as a source of inspiration.

Look for opportunities 

There are various organisations offering volunteering opportunities. The European Union offers you great opportunities to volunteer both at the local and international level with the European Solidarity Corps Programme. You can enrol in the programme if you are between 17 and 30 years old, but you must be at least 18 years old when joining a volunteering project. Once selected, everything is arranged for you! 

If you want to embark on a new adventure and dedicate yourself to helping others, you can sign up for the European Solidarity Corps today! You can also search the database of accredited organisations to get the contact details of organisations which might be looking for volunteers for their projects or browse the different opportunities and apply directly from the site. Still not clear about what type of activity to go for? Take the European Solidarity Corps quiz!

On the web, you will also find private organisations proposing programmes to volunteer abroad, be aware that some can be very expensive.

Here are some interesting organisations and databases of volunteering opportunities:

• Eurodesk: opportunities for young people
• Service Civil International: volunteering for peace
• WWOOF: a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers
• WWF Young Adult Volunteer & Internship Programme

Do background checks

You will find a lot of different opportunities on the Internet, as there are many organisations that would welcome your help. However, you should make sure that these organisations are reliable. There are hundreds of websites out there for organisations that no longer exist, never really existed or just do not do the work they claim to do. Even if you see an advert on a dedicated volunteering website, you should remember that these websites are not accountable for the credibility of the organisations that advertise about them.

In short, you should always investigate an organisation, not only by visiting its website but also by speaking with its staff, to find out what the organisation is trying to accomplish and how their volunteering programme works. Reliable organisations won’t have any problem answering all of your questions and putting you in contact with previous volunteers.

Bear in mind that even if you have chosen an opportunity that seemed perfect in a trustworthy organisation, things still need time to run smoothly and you should be patient. Not every volunteer mission is right for every volunteer, and while one assignment may not be ideal for you, there will be dozens of others that meet your needs and expectations.

The European Volunteer Center (CEV) has published a toolkit to help you evaluate volunteering opportunities. It would come in handy, during the decision process, in order to find the most suitable action to take. 

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Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, and even feel happier and healthier. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you.

Why volunteer?

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier

1. Volunteering connects you to others.
2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
3. Volunteering can advance your career.
4. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life.

Benefit 1: Volunteering connects you to others

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.

Make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

Increase your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering as a family

Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you’ll show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.

Benefit 2: Volunteering is good for your mind and body

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression.

Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.

Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer?

People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing and vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. In today’s digital age, many organizations need help with writing, graphic design, email, and other web-based tasks. Some organizations may require you to attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely. In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions.

Benefit 3: Volunteering can advance your career

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Teaching you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

Gaining career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home.

Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

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