Solidarity through Volunteering
Humans intuitively tend to help and get involved when faced with a situation or see people facing a problem. It is prevalent for us to see many coming forward (volunteering) to contribute when a natural disaster strikes. Volunteering is an effort of an individual or a group who offers their time and labour to community service. Every year, International Volunteer Day is celebrated on December 5. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to observe International Volunteer Day in December 1985. It is a day to recognise the efforts of volunteers and their contributions to transforming societies, economies, and the environment. Volunteers have a life-changing impact on millions of people every day. It is estimated that there are over one billion people who volunteer worldwide. Research indicates that individuals involved in volunteering have a positive impact on their health and chronic pain management. Most volunteer work is done informally, and women are more likely to volunteer than men. Not necessarily the help in the form of providing financial resources. In exploring the digital world, people across the globe give their time and effort to share information. There should be a way to channelise this energy for effective volunteerism. All of us must come together and work to ensure the future of our planet. . As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” It is time to be together and act now.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Mhatma Gandhi
Humans intuitively tend to help and get involved when faced with a situation or see people facing a problem. It is prevalent for us to see many coming forward (volunteering) to contribute when a natural disaster strikes. Volunteering is an effort of an individual or a group who offers their time and labour to community service. The contributions can be in any domain, health care, education, or emergency rescue. When done in an organised way, volunteers draw together by finding solutions and helping people and providing strength and support to cope with the challenge and finally return to normalcy.
Every year, International Volunteer Day is celebrated on December 5. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to observe “International Volunteer Day” in December 1985. It is a day to recognise the efforts of volunteers and their contributions to transforming societies, economies, and the environment. The commemoration is to establish a framework across the countries. UN pays tribute to all the volunteers and is proud of being role models in their communities. Volunteerism is universal and strengthens civic engagement, social inclusion, solidarity, and ownership. Many events and activities were organised worldwide to celebrate International Volunteers Day this year.
Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much.
Helen Keller
It is reported that volunteerism dates to medieval Europe. It emerged in an organised manner in the early 19th century. Organisations like the Red Cross, Lions Club, Rotary Club, and the YMCA started providing platforms for organised contributions for charity work and community service. Volunteers have a life-changing impact on millions of people every day. It is estimated that there are over one billion people who volunteer worldwide. Research indicates that individuals involved in volunteering have a positive impact on their health and chronic pain management. Most of the volunteer work (~70%) is done informally. Women are more likely to volunteer than men (~57%). There are several organisations worldwide who connect who desire to contribute and where there is a need. Sankalp volunteer is one such Indian organisation.
In exploring the digital world, people across the globe give their time and effort to share information, which is involuntary and impulsive. Time is not far when people crave in-person interactions. There should be a way to channelise this energy for effective volunteerism. Elders, and people with chronic health conditions, all need support. Not necessarily the help in the form of providing financial resources.
We must come together and work to ensure our planet’s future. This is not an era to stand alone but together, as one, in solidarity with each other. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”
It is time to be together and act now.
Toons: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
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