William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-09-01 / 9. szám
helpers 10 pieces of advice for volunteers Ask ICG volunteers why they donate their time and effort, and you're likely to get 100 different answers. That's because volunteering offers so many rewards. Some are so deeply personal and enriching that they are difficult to describe. But, volunteering isn't easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it. It demands time, effort and selfsacrifice. It can test your abilities and patience. The time you spend volunteering means less time spent with your family. Sometimes what you experience as a volunteer can force you to reevaluate your own beliefs. To help you meet the challenge of volunteering, we present the following pieces of advice for volunteers. They come to us from Service Leader, a nonprofit organization which provides guidance and training for volunteers and organizations reliant on volunteers. Start with What You Can Do Look around you and start with anything you think you can do. Remember, it's very important to start with what is easier and to gradually move on to more challenging activities as you grow more confident. Starting with what you are sure you can manage, you can lay a solid foundation for future steps. Don’t Overburden Yourself Don't be too ambitious if you hope to continue your volunteer activities for any length of time. Modest but consistent involvement will win people's trust and help you stay involved even longer. It is important to have the courage to say "no" to what you think is beyond your abilities. Put Yourself in the Other Person’s Shoes You will find that as you spend more time volunteering for a particular project or cause, you'll tend to want to do things your way. Any volunteer activity involves two parties: those who are in need of help and those who are trying to help them. The will and desire of the person whom you are trying to help should be your first and foremost priority. Always reflect upon your own behavior to make sure it is in line with that priority. Keep Your Promises Never break promises you've made, even if they seem to be trivial ones that you just happened to make during casual chats. You must keep your word regarding such things as when you'll visit and the kinds of services you are going to provide. Be especially aware of what you prom-Ifilliiini Penn Life, September 2000
