Benefits

Volunteering Abroad: How to Find the Right Program

December 8, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

It can be difficult to find volunteering programs in other countries, as many of them charge a fortune (which may or may not benefit the charity or country). Ideally, you can connect with the organization directly, rather than paying a middleman to get you there. Many online directories offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities, but you need to be careful that you are choosing a program appropriate for your specific skills and for the country. Often, it is better for a place to hire local people to build homes, serve food and teach, than it is to have volunteers come from elsewhere.

However, if you have extensive experience in particular areas, you may well be a useful volunteer for another country. For example, if you can share a skill, such as teaching automobile repairs or sewing, you would likely be welcome. If you speak other languages or have experience with literacy programs, your abilities would likely be welcome. Many places need doctors, nurses and educators. Also, areas that have recently experienced a disaster, such as a flood or hurricane, often require the assistance of foreign volunteers.

Peace Corps can be a good option for individuals who want to volunteer. You don’t pay anything (you actually get a living stipend) and you can work in accordance with your interests and (sometimes) in your country of preference. However, Peace Corps requires a two-year commitment, which is too long for many people. Furthermore, some people complain that they were unable to accomplish anything in the Peace Corps, due to corrupt or slow bureaucracy. Others say they were given assignments that did not suit their experience or skill set. Still, many individuals enjoyed their time in the Peace Corps and learned a lot from it.

Teaching organizations can be a good volunteering possibility; education is essential to the health of a community and you’re certain to have a positive impact. For example, World Teach, one of the less expensive volunteer programs, charges from $1,000 to teach in China, to $6,000 to teach in Africa (including airfare).

Filed Under: Benefits, General, Groups, Individual, Volunteering Tagged With: Abroad, education, opportunities, Volunteering

Plan a Youth Conference

December 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Need to plan a youth conference? Here are some general ideas to get you started.

First of all, recruit some of the other parents to help you plan the conference, so that you don’t have to do everything alone. Find people with diverse skill sets to bring together. For example, if you know that Betty is an excellent cupcake baker and Dave loves to barbecue, consider asking them to join the team. It’s a good idea to have someone artistic, someone financially savvy and so forth.

Next, figure out what kind of conference you want to have and where it’s going to take place. Day long conferences are the simplest, as you don’t have to deal with overnight lodging and such. If you do want to do a weekend or week long conference, consider camping, or finding a place where everyone can stay for free. Someone may have an empty house or second home that you can use.

Decide what, specifically, you want the youth conference to be about, and what kind of activities you’d like to schedule. Maybe you want to set up a scavenger hunt or games for the kids to play. Perhaps you want to have free time scheduled, or a game of tag outside. Also, think about what lessons and ideas you want the kids to take away from the youth conference. Is it about inspiration? Self-confidence? Find a few teachers, parents or friends to speak in front of the kids. Ask around to see if anyone is willing to speak free of charge. Relatives of friends are often helpful.

Create a financial plan to calculate how much you can spend on groceries, food, and supplies. Plan meals carefully, as it can be difficulty to coordinate snacks for all those kids. You might benefit from choosing meals that are filling but not too pricy, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or pizza.

Last, but not least, be sure to have a good time planning!

Filed Under: Benefits, General, Groups, Individual, Volunteering Tagged With: activities ., Plan, Youth Conference

What is Information Society?

December 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Economist Fritz Machlup began to develop the idea of information society in the 1930′s. He studied the distribution and production of knowledge in the United States. Machlup wrote a well-known book which was also read in Russia and Japan, and the idea of “information society” was born. In 1962, Machlup introduced the idea of knowledge industry, which included five different areas: research and development, mass media, information technology, education and information services. The knowledge industry was the foundation of an information society.

What exactly is an information society? By some definitions, it’s the most advanced stage of societal evolution. Some authors claim it began with Machlup’s theory, in the 1930′s, while others declare that information society started in the 1970′s, when technology advancements changed the structure of the economy. These days, politicians sometimes use the phrase “information society” to indicate that the use of the Internet is widespread, but there’s much more to information society than the worldwide web.

Information society is sometimes defined as a society with advanced communication systems, or a society where the integration and growth of knowledge plays a central role in the economy. Others say that information society refers to a society that engages intellectual labor; that is, work that stems from the mind rather than the body. However, this theory does not acknowledge the fact that all societies engage in industrial activity, even if they are quite technologically advanced. It is interesting to consider the possibilities of information society on a longterm basis: is it sustainable? How many creative persons can an information society support? Will the value of physical labor increase as mind labor grows becomes more widespread?

The term information society is not the only phrase to address the changing economy and technological advancements. Other terms include knowledge economy, knowledge market, information economy, electronic business, electronic commerce, the information revolution, the computer revolution, and so forth. All of the terms, including “information society” emphasize a different facet of the same general concept.

Filed Under: Benefits, Volunteering Tagged With: information services, Information Society, knowledge, Machlup

Youth Volunteering: The Gap Year

December 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

The term “gap year” traditionally refers to a year of volunteerism between high school and college, but it can be a year off from studies at any time. The idea of a gap year originated in the sixties, when many young persons left home for an adventure in Nepal or India, on the famous “hippie trails.” In 1967, Project Trust, which was an Educational Trust, was founded, and it became the first volunteer travel program for students.

The actual origin of the term “gap year” is not known, though in 1978 an organization in England called themselves GAP Activity Projects. Gap years continued to experience popularity during the 80′s and 90′s, and in the last decade the gap year market has grown more than any other global travel sector.

The most common type of gap year involves international volunteering, but working holidays (in the hospitality industry, for example) are also popular. Some gap year students, or “gappers,” go abroad for an educational experience, and do a language immersion program with a homestay component.

Some countries, like England and Australia, encourage the gap year. Australia has a large number of working holiday exchange programs with other countries, including Denmark. Denmark, however, does not approve of the gap year, and in 2009, they introduced a new law which benefits students who refrain from a gap year. In Japan, gap years are also rare, due to the common practice of recruiting new graduates.

In the United States, gap years are growing in popularity, but are not yet widespread. This is, in part, because American education is quite expensive, and many students have loans to pay. However, there are a number of programs that offer gap years in the United States, such as Dynamy and City Year. Furthermore, some of the big universities, like Harvard, are urging students to consider a gap year. Princeton offers a “bridge year” for newly admitted students, allowing them to do a year of public service before beginning school. Why? Because a better prepared student is more likely to focus and complete their education.

Filed Under: Benefits, General, Volunteering Tagged With: Gap Year, graduates, students, Youth Volunteering

Why do People Volunteer?

October 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

People of all ages are motivated to volunteer for many reasons. The desire to help others is the main reason people volunteer, and it is okay to volunteer for reasons that are beneficial to you. Some individuals are embarrassed by the notion that people who volunteer can benefit from their work, but some of the best volunteers have are motivated by other reasons than just the aspiration to serve.
Volunteering has long been thought of as something you do selflessly for others, but in recent times it has become more of an exchange. People often find themselves in need of help at one point or another in their lives. While you are capable of offering a helping hand today, you may need help down the line. Sometimes an exchange happens simultaneously. Your education may allow you to offer your services as a tutor to help other adults read, but your unemployed status may require you to reach out so you can afford to give your family a holiday meal.
The desire and reward of feeling needed, getting to know others in your community, and satisfaction of accomplishment may be underlining reasons you choose to volunteer. Just because you are motivated by something other than just wanting to change the world, does not mean you are not truly making a difference. Your reasons for volunteering are your own, and the only thing that matters is that you are out in the community making a difference.
What motivates you to volunteer in the beginning is not what makes you continue your work. Underlying motivations are beneficial to volunteer efforts and to those who are in need because they are receiving the care they need and are able to realize their own potential from the eyes of their volunteer. Helping others may not be your only motivation for volunteering, and at the end of the day it does not really matter.

Filed Under: Benefits, Volunteering Tagged With: Commonwealth Games, Employment, Job hunting, opportunities, Philanthropy, Résumé, United States, Volunteer

Ways to Help Others Part II

September 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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As many individuals decide to take part in volunteering, the question that remains is where they would be able to help the most and what type of volunteering is the best fit. With the many organizations and charities out there, there are many opportunities available.
For many, the Special Olympics offer a chance to compete in sports without being limited by their mental handicaps. The Special Olympics is an international program that trains children and adults year-round in a variety of sports. There are many volunteering opportunities that help enhance the participant’s quality of life such as fund raising, sports training, competition planning, and administrative help. Since the Special Olympics reach worldwide, there is most likely an office in your area where you can begin making a difference right away.
Habitat for Humanity is another charity that works to improve the quality of life for families who live in run down homes or who do not have a home at all. Those that volunteer at Habitat for Humanity have the opportunity to help build a home for less fortunate families and to learn the process of building a home. Another option for volunteer enthusiasts is to work with state parks. Many individuals who volunteer at state parks work in educational programs, maintenance, and trail construction. By volunteering at a state park, individuals are given a chance to help preserve the area.
Mentor programs in cities of all sizes have helped many children and adults. Literacy programs are always recruiting volunteers to help teach individuals the most important skills they need such as learning to read. Acting as a tutor for the individuals that are unable to read helps improve their quality of life and prepare them for opportunities they would not have had without the ability to read. Hospitals offer many volunteering opportunities in cities large and small. Many volunteers are needed to help patients who are undergoing treatment in the hospital and to continue volunteering when the patient returns home. Once you have decided that volunteering is right for you, a little research will help you pick the best option.

Filed Under: Benefits, Volunteering Tagged With: Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity International, opportunities, organizations, Philanthropy, Special Olympics, Travel, Volunteer