There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities. Non-profits and student service organizations are begging for student volunteers—the problem is finding an opportunity that fits your individual needs and interests.
This Sunday marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week, a time dedicated to recognizing and completing community service. This week is also the perfect time to start on your journey to find the perfect volunteer opportunity. So how can students find the best place to volunteer?
Determine your passion
“Interest plays a large part. Students have to find a subject that they are passionate about and it will make them want to make a difference,” said Lovell Lemons, director at Georgia State’s Office of Civic Engagement.
Determining your area of passion is the first and most important step in the process of finding any volunteer opportunity. Community service projects require time, energy and effort, and for great volunteers the work itself is a part of the reward.
Hastily signing up to volunteer for a cause you are not interested in can be frustrating for you and can be more harmful than helpful to the organization. Think about an area where you want to make an impact; that is where the search needs to begin.
What skills do you have to offer?
When people think of community service, they often picture grassroots services, volunteers getting their hands dirty and interacting directly with the affected population. While those grassroots volunteers are invaluable, those are not the only volunteer opportunities out there.
“Non-profits essentially have the same capacity as businesses in the private sector; they still need people to help in all areas,” said Shari Baskin, the administrative coordinator at Georgia State’s Office of Civic Engagement.
“We are trying to incorporate career clusters into some of our service opportunities to get students the experiences that they need, as well as giving back to the back to the community.”
When it comes to finding a place to volunteer, what you can contribute is essential. Take into consideration your talents and brainstorm ways that you could apply them.
For example, if you are tech savvy, find an opportunity to work for an organization’s website or social media outlets to attract other volunteers. If you are great at event planning, try to find an opportunity where you can help organize fundraisers. The more you are able to contribute, the more you will get from the experience.
Committing your time
It is important to be realistic about the amount of time that you can commit to your cause. Before you search for a particular opportunity think about your schedule and course load and figure out how much time you can give while still keeping your sanity.
If you have more time on your hands, consider joining an organization that specializes in community service, working in a leadership position or creating your own community service project.
Get Out of your Comfort Zone
“Something I’ve learned with volunteering in general, especially with the Panther Breakaway trips, is just to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. You are going somewhere and living in a situation, so it’s important to just be open minded,” said Shamiso Zisengwe, a senior public relations major and director of Panther Breakaway.
The Panther Breakaway program is an alternative spring and winter break program that organizes community service trips for college students. Working in service programs like Panther Breakaway, students may find themselves in positions of leadership, doing things they’ve never done with people they’ve never worked with.
Volunteer somewhere that forces you out of your comfort zone. Consider opportunities were you are constantly learning and are an essential part of the organization, because those are positions are the most rewarding.
Ask for help
Many students want to volunteer but don’t know where or how to access service opportunities. For those students, it is necessary to reach out to others and let them know exactly where and what you want to do.
“There are many opportunities around, so if you ever need to volunteer, all you have to do is ask. Come to the Office of Civic Engagement, connect with people on Facebook—just tell people what you want and someone will help you get there,” said Sigi Cayel, a sophomore political science major and assistant director of Panther Breakaway.
The staff provide students with information and help in choosing the best community service opportunity.
“On our online system ‘Volunteer Solutions,’ students can go online and create a profile of themselves, and it will make suggestions of volunteer opportunities they can connect to,” Lemons explained.
There is no shortage of service projects and organizations with which students can volunteer.
“We get a good amount of students, but we can always have more,” Baskin said.
“There’s so much good work that can be done on this campus and in the community. And as we are trying to help Georgia State cultivate a culture of service, we hope more students and student leaders will come in and serve.”
For more information and help finding a volunteer opportunity visit the Office of Civic Engagement at 429 University center or visit their website at service.gsu.edu.
