Whenever you apply for a scholarship or a work-based training, having volunteering experience is among the skills required to be successfully selected. This means that not only does volunteering help improve your personal and interpersonal skills but it also advances your career. Better yet, it provides several benefits to both your mental and physical health.

There is no denying that everything has its pros and cons. As you get ready to engage in volunteer work, some questions related to time-management, time-consuming tasks, and work pay may pop up in your mind. However, despite the few cons, volunteering offers generally far more advantages than you may imagine. Being a volunteer shows how much you feel committed to and concerned for your peers.

The contribution of volunteers to the well-being of individuals and communities has always long been acknowledged. In truth, it plays a fundamental role in keeping people and communities together, building social cohesion and meeting the needs of many groups in the face of adversities or in times of crisis. In short, it strengthens communities and helps make the world a better place. This is why many grassroots associations and international organizations like the United Nations appeal to volunteer service and encourage countries to invest in measuring the scale and the contribution of individuals’ voluntary efforts. In 2019, for instance, the UN General Assembly recognized that volunteerism can be a powerful and cross-cutting means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals by calling for a resolution on “Volunteering for the 2030 Agenda” (UN).

In addition to that, volunteering improves health in its whole. A study conducted with American older adults selected from the nationwide Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to work as a volunteer reveals interesting facts about volunteering. The volunteerism study involved a nationally representative cohort of 12,988 participants residing in the U.S. with an average age of 66. The findings reveal that older adults who volunteered for at least 100 hours per year – about two hours a week – show a substantially reduced risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of subsequent physical activity, and improved sense of well-being later on compared to individuals who do not volunteer. (Kim et al,. 2020).

Erick Kim – the first author of this study based in Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health said in a news release: “Humans are social creatures by nature. Perhaps this is why our minds and bodies are rewarded when we give to others.” Through this statement, Kim proves how doing good does you good and engaging in regular volunteer work provides obvious benefits for health and well-being.

Through volunteering, you also learn different soft skills that will be of great value when applying for a scholarship, seeking a job, and engaging in a professional training. At the present time, whenever you enroll for an academic or professional training program, some specific skills acquired from volunteer services are listed among the selection criteria, including leadership, time management, professionalism, critical thinking and problem-solving, and communication skills.

If you want to increase your chance to be selected for a job, or any training program, volunteer. Similarly, if you seek to feel good in your skin and in your mind while caring for others, commit yourself in volunteerism. You will not be disappointed because sooner or later, it will pay off. So, why not give it a try!

Sources: Help Guide / Psychology Today / United Nations/
“Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-being in
Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach”,
Eric S. Kim, PhD et al., 2020.