Student volunteering is a highly rewarding experience that allows students the opportunity to not only meet new people, but also to have a positive impact in society. In the advent of prevalent social media use though, is student volunteerism still the right path in gaining real-world experience and widening career prospects?
In this blog, we’ll talk about student volunteering, how it actually benefits students, and the opportunities they can consider to volunteer in. We’ll also talk about how nongovernment organizations such as Childhope Philippines always spearhead efforts aimed to advocate for the spirit of volunteerism. Read on!
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Why Volunteering Matters for Students
Have you ever wondered how student volunteering can change your promising career path and touch the lives of many people? It’s like hitting two birds with one stone but in a positive impactful way.
You Get to Meet New People!
Want to meet new people outside of the usual social media invite? Then joining a student volunteer program is the way to go! Student volunteerism is an awesome way to expand your social network and connect with fellow student volunteers with the same goals and passions.
Whether you are shy or thrive mingling with students, the opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds is a life-changing experience that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Mental Health Matters
According to Rosterfy, an end-to-end volunteer management software solution provider, one of the benefits of student volunteering is that it improves mental health and life expectancy. These, in turn, benefits not only your physical health but also your emotional well-being.
Student life can be pretty chaotic having late-night study sessions to finish assignments, facing exams, and juggling college social gatherings. Through volunteer experience, you’ll be able to acquire valuable soft skills like effective time management and learning to be more independent. While learning the ropes of student volunteerism, the fulfillment and happiness that you get reduces your chances of experiencing depression and anxiety. Who knew student volunteerism really does wonder to one’s mental and physical health?
In the Service of Kindness
Volunteering for college students is also a way of gaining real-world experience through service learning. It’s more than just student volunteering; it’s also a way to apply the knowledge you’ve acquired in your classes when faced with real-life problems. Elmhurst University also backs this up by saying that college students who partake in volunteer opportunities are more deeply engaged within their local communities.
Through service learning, you’ll be able to hone not only your soft skills but also the ability to communicate and be more mindful or conscientious of others. It’s also a known fact that student volunteers who start early in community service end up doing this in the long run — making the world a better and kinder place.
Getting You Ready for the Real World
Are you keen on exploring various career prospects? Then student volunteering is a way to bolster your resume. As they usually look for valuable work experience, let your future employers see your competitive edge not only through higher education and good grades, but by showcasing that you’re competent enough for the real world — gaining firsthand skills through student volunteerism.
One of the notable benefits of community service is that it allows you to develop necessary skills like time management, leadership, and problem-solving. It also gives you a chance to explore various career path choices which is why volunteering for college students is a great way to determine which job you’d like to pursue shortly without committing long-term to a career choice just yet.
Student Volunteering Opportunities to Explore
There are a lot of student volunteers program options that you can choose from. Or better yet, create your own volunteer experience and invite your friends and classmates to join you.
Teach Through Tutoring
Want to boost your work experience? Put your knowledge to good use by offering tutorial services. Help your fellow students who are struggling with a certain subject get the help they need. Flex your mastery of a specific higher education course in a good way by offering one-on-one or group tutorials and making studying fun.
Declutter and Donate
Do you feel that your dorm room or apartment getting all cluttered? Maybe it’s time to clean up and sort your stuff. Putting up or joining various donation drives is one way of providing for the less fortunate. Seek out homeless shelters that are in dire need of various clothing for their residents. You can also encourage students to join food and toy drives that give out holiday gifts for families who are struggling over the holidays.
Coach Sports for Kids
Love playing with kids and good with sports? Then volunteer coaching might be the perfect fit for you! Have fun teaching kids the joy of soccer, baseball, basketball, or other sports that you are good at. Some of the notable benefits of volunteering through coaching are you’ll acquire leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
Volunteer Ideas for Those Under 18
For those starting on student volunteering before university, don’t worry. There are various volunteer opportunities for you as well! Most animal shelters cater to volunteers of all ages who would like to play and interact with their adorable animals. You can also try out attending weekend gatherings at various nursing homes and interacting with grandparents seeking the chance to talk with young ones.
Other accessible options to get involved include tutoring and mentoring children with their studies; assisting in planning fundraising events or awareness campaigns; taking part in cleanup drives and activities that promote environmental awareness; and sharing your talents in music, art, or sports to inspire and engage the youth.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Student Volunteering
Finding student volunteer opportunities isn’t as hard as it seems. You can easily find most listings on various social media platforms. So where do you find places for volunteer experience? Before anything else, take a look at the checklist below as your overall guide:
- Identify Your Passion: Reflect on what causes resonate with you. Consider your skills and interests. Do you see yourself finding purpose in teaching street children? How about volunteering in feeding programs?
- Research Opportunities: Nongovernmental institutions and organizations, such as Childhope Philippines, usually take the lead in student volunteering opportunities. This is why research is key.
- Apply: Fill out the volunteer application form, detailing your interests and availability.
- Attend Orientation: Participate in an orientation session that these organizations plan in order to learn about the organization’s mission and expectations.
- Start Volunteering: Jump into your chosen role and begin making a difference!
Where to Look for Student Volunteering Opportunities
- School: Schools often give their students the opportunity to try various volunteering opportunities. Ask your school’s counselors, libraries, career centers, and campus clubs about this.
- Local Organizations: Beyond campus walls, there are also local organizations in dire need of student volunteers. Seek out your local food banks, farmer’s markets, hobby clubs, and even your local government offices for volunteer opportunities and make a positive impactful mark in your community.
- Family and Friends: Don’t be shy and ask your loved ones! They might be the best people to recommend you to various volunteering groups. Your family and friends know you the most so they can very much point you to the right group.
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Inspiring Stories of Childhope’s Student Volunteers
Still not convinced about student volunteering? Here are some stories for our very own student volunteers at Childhope Philippines to inspire you.
Trishalene Aguilera
Trishalene learned through her internship at Childhope how strong human relationships are and why it’s crucial to provide safe spaces for kids. She had the opportunity to work directly with street kids and saw how brave, strong, and full of potential these young people were.
Miguel Pereña
Miguel maintains that one of the notable benefits of community service is that it allows him to be a flexible worker. Through student volunteerism, he learned to be exposed to a broad range of tasks while at the same time seeing the joy of serving less fortunate street children.
Ysa Galang
Ysa volunteered with her classmates at Childhope by offering tutorials and bubble art sessions. Though coordination and traveling to the volunteering locations is quite a challenge, she felt all her tiredness faded every time she got to interact and have fun with the children.
Nelson James Bernal
Nelson James, a philosophy major, learned firsthand through his Childhope volunteer experience how powerful the “Ethics of Care” is. To achieve a thriving community, there should be moral acts such as volunteering or simply caring for each other to lead to stronger interpersonal relationships.
Samantha Lucido
Samantha’s first brush with student volunteerism was through Childhope. For her, throughout her volunteering journey, she was most appreciative of the fac that even small contributions were greatly valued. Hearing appreciation firsthand from the children they have worked with makes her student volunteering experience all worth it.
Take Action and Join Childhope Today
Volunteering as a student is a powerful way to not only help others but also discover your own potential. Your efforts can spark change in the lives of children in need, and you’ll be amazed at how fulfilling it can be. Granted, student volunteering might seem to be overwhelming at first. But taking that initial step of wanting to make a positive impact through kindness makes it all the worthwhile.
Ready to make a difference? Join Childhope Philippines as a volunteer today and start your journey! Together, let’s take action and make an impact in the lives of street children!