I’ll admit it. I wasn’t a very active volunteer until I started my application to school. I just never saw the value of working for free when I knew I could be paid for it. I just plain didn’t understand why people would want to give their precious time and energy for free, when they could be doing the same thing, and get money for it.

It wasn’t until I started looking into volunteer opportunities that I realized it was more than just “working for free.” I realized that the driving force behind many of the volunteers I met was that they wanted to get ahead in the workforce. They wanted to learn their industries inside and out. They were gaining valuable experience, experience that not only would serve them in the long run, but also look good on a résumé.

There’s also another camp of volunteers who donate their time and energy for the betterment of things. People volunteer to build houses all over the world with Habitat for Humanity because they were lucky enough to know what it’s like to live with a roof over their heads. Doctors who work for little to no pay for Doctors Without Borders to help third world countries receive first class (or close to) care. I could go on and on about the many different organizations that simply require donated manpower to run.

Simply put, volunteering is driven by personal, professional, community or societal goals. But where do you start?

Starting Out

The number one thing you need to do is figure out why you want to volunteer. Is it for personal/professional reasons? Do you want to just give back to your community? Do you want to make a difference in the world in some small way?

Once you’ve figured out what your reasons for volunteering are, there are many places to start. The biggest resource for volunteers in Canada is with Go Volunteer. They list various types of volunteer opportunities by province, and are a part of the “Give a day. Get a Disney Day” program.  That’s right. You volunteer one day, you get one day at the wonderful world of Disneyland!

With Go Volunteer, you can search by region, by activity and even by organization type. Activities range from administration to daycare and maintenance, and even at the higher level for not for profit management positions.

Things to keep in mind

Boundaries

Make sure you know what your boundaries are! If you know you can’t work that 12 hour shift your volunteer manager asked you to do, tell them. Remember – you’re a volunteer. The organization needs to respect your boundaries and you need to be able to voice them.

Values and beliefs

Choose wisely! Be sure to pick an organization or company whose values line up with your own.  If you don’t believe in an organization’s direction and mandates, you won’t receive a fulfilling volunteer experience.

Commitment

Going back to the first point about boundaries, be sure you are clear on what the organization expects out of their volunteers.  This way, you know exactly what they want and they’re also clear on what your commitments and priorities are as well.

Ready, get set…

…Go volunteer! Volunteering will help you find your true passions and provide an outlet for creativity you never imagined. Not only that, volunteering can provide you with unforgettable experiences and invaluable industry contacts. I wish you luck in your volunteer journey and hope that this article has helped in some small way!

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Lesley Chang

Lesley Chang is a first year public relations student at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Richmond BC. An avid coffee drinker, starving college student, and frugal chef, she runs her own website at Starvingcollegegirl.com, where she’s currently trying to raise money for tuition (hint, hint!).

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