Volunteering brings a distinct value that goes beyond what professionals can provide. The simple act of choosing to volunteer carries transformative power, both for those who give their time and for the communities they join. Here are some of the ways volunteering creates positive change:
1. Transmitting High Expectations and Inspiration: Volunteers often approach their roles with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. When volunteers join an institution like a school, they come with high expectations of the transformative potential of their role and the institution itself. This optimism inspires students, helping them see their potential for growth and success. For example, when a volunteer enters a classroom, they genuinely believe that students are capable of learning and succeeding. This confidence transmits a powerful message to the students: “You can do it.” This reinforcement of high expectations often leads to improved outcomes as students rise to meet them.
2. Learning From Diverse Perspectives: Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, which adds richness to the environment they serve. Learning is enriched when we interact with diverse individuals. Volunteers, by their very nature, bring a variety of perspectives that enhance the learning experience. In schools, for instance, volunteers might include a highly educated teacher, an illiterate mother, or an exchange student, each offering unique ways to explain the same concept. Also, the exposure to diverse approaches fosters academic learning and teaches values like adaptability, empathy, and respect.
3. Making a Big Difference With Small Actions: Volunteers bring resources that are sometimes overlooked but can make a big difference. For instance, in Spain, non-Spanish-speaking women volunteer in interactive groups for English lessons at schools, offering students an opportunity to learn directly from someone with a different cultural and linguistic background. These contributions amplify what can be achieved while advocating for more formal resources.
4. Building a Shared Sense of Community: Volunteering fosters a strong sense of community by creating spaces where individuals from different backgrounds come together and feel connected. Through volunteering, people find shared values and mutual support. For the volunteer, this experience helps build a sense of belonging and reinforces their own identity within the community. In times of division and hate speech, volunteering becomes a powerful tool for cultivating unity, inclusion, and a shared purpose. Volunteering strengthens not only shared values but also a sense of responsibility, creating a shared identity where people feel connected regardless of their differences.
5. Gaining Skills for Life and Work: Volunteering also benefits the individual by providing opportunities to develop social and professional skills. The roles they take on often equip them with competencies that are directly relevant to the labor market. Additionally, the connections they form lead to friendships and solidarity. These interactions can lead to life-changing friendships and support networks. For instance, two volunteers working in a community garden not only supported each other but also decided to get truck-driving licenses together. They found jobs as a result, showing how volunteering creates networks that benefit individuals both personally and professionally.
If anyone ever questions the benefits of volunteering, we can always respond with the undeniable evidence of its transformative potential.
Associate Proffessor in Sociology at the University of Barcelona.
Member of the Advisory Committee on Religious Diversity of the Generalitat de Catalunya.