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Tag: volunteer hours

  • Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

    Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer

    Thinking of becoming a volunteer? Here are 10 good reasons to do so!

    #10: It’s good for you.

    Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards.

    • It reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
    • It makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one’s fate, strengthen the immune system.

    #9: It saves resources.

    Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.

    • The estimated value of a volunteer’s time is $27.00 per hour as of 2017.

    #8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

    You can test out a career.

    #7: It brings people together.

    As a volunteer you assist in:

    • Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.
    • Building camaraderie and teamwork.

    #6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem.

    Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

    #5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

    As a volunteer you help:

    • Support families (daycare and eldercare)
    • Improve schools (tutoring, literacy)
    • Support youth (mentoring and after-school programs)
    • Beautify the community (beach and park cleanups)

    #4: You learn a lot.

    Volunteers learn about things like:

    • Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self-worth.
    • Government: Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.
    • Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

    #3: You get a chance to give back.

    People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

    #2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

    Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

    #1: You make a difference.

    Every person counts!

  • Getting Your Volunteer Hours!

    Getting Your Volunteer Hours!

    So you’re looking to fill those required 40 hours of volunteer service– we get it, it’s not easy. The requirement to fill 40 hrs of volunteering is easy for some and difficult for others. No matter what you think of it, volunteering is a necessity and is actually important for many reasons besides fulfilling rules to graduate.

    It provides an opportunity for you to learn more about yourself, to meet people you wouldn’t otherwise meet, to act in a role that you wouldn’t otherwise have, and to possibly evaluate different career opportunities. Along with this exploration, volunteering also builds self-confidence and provides you with some work experience that you can put on your resume!

    So naturally, the next part of the process is where to look for volunteer opportunities. The first thing to keep in mind is to find out what the guidelines are, and what is considered eligible and ineligible volunteer activities. This is key. You don’t want to invest a large amount of time into something that your school board refuses to see as volunteer work. From there, it’s about finding something that appeals to you.

    Many students seek out local libraries, local charity organizations, and even the school itself for volunteer opportunities. Libraries are particularly popular as they often have reading buddy programs and similar ventures. If you don’t know where to look, speaking with a guidance counselor or even a parent, as they might be able to suggest some unadvertised opportunities for you to contribute a little bit of your time. Cities across Canada also have volunteer centres, which help distribute volunteer opportunities among the community. If you are down on your luck and don’t know where to look, checking in with one of these centres may prove to be fruitful.

    Think about what skills you are looking to gain. For example, if you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, perhaps there is a volunteer program at your local gym you might be able to plug into. Or, if you’re seeking a career in animal welfare, perhaps your local animal shelter can use a helping hand on the weekends.

    Beyond thinking about what you might want to do long-term for a career, also give some thought to the causes you are passionate about. If you’re passionate about the environment, check out some local green organizations and their event listings. There might be something you can do there. If you’re really into women’s rights, there are a number of organizations that could probably use some help. Once again, check events listings. These are very helpful. Even going on local classified sites for volunteer listings might help inspire something in you.

    There’s no shortage of volunteer work, no matter where you are in Canada. The difficulty can be finding the right volunteer opportunity for you. Luckily, you have a fair bit of time to clock in forty hours. Don’t wait for the last minute, but also, don’t panic if it’s only been two weeks and you haven’t found anything. Speak with anyone who you figure might be able to point you in the right direction. Volunteering is a lot of fun, a great way to brighten up the community a little bit, and, for most people, is a truly awesome experience. Find what appeals to you and get involved.

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service- UPDATED!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    There are so many ways you can get your 40 hours of community service completed. Besides volunteer centres, you may be able to find other alternative ways to get your mandatory service hours.

    If you are living in Ontario, check out these guidelines listed on the Ministry of Education website:

    http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html

    These guidelines will let you know what is considered acceptable and not acceptable volunteer activities. If you don’t live in Ontario, visit your provincial government website’s high-school volunteer guidelines.

    An excellent search resource for students looking to complete their hours is charityvillage.com . This website allows you to search for volunteer listings all over Canada. It is easy to access and will give you a choice of many different volunteering opportunities.

    Another great, easy, searchable resource for finding volunteer opportunities is volunteermatch.org . This website will let you search opportunities all over Canada, as well. It is easy to navigate and allows you to search by category or what you are passionate about.

    What Volunteering Can Do for You

    Volunteering can turn into a life-long habit. If you are passionate about helping others or a specific cause, it may follow you throughout your life. You can learn a lot about yourself, your community, and others. Even though it is a requirement in high-school, it doesn’t have to stop there. Your interests might change over time, but you can always go back to how you felt while volunteering in high-school. Do not see volunteering as a chore- see it as a chance for you to walk in someone else’s shoes.

    Tip: Whatever you do, don’t leave volunteering to the last minute. If you do, you may not be able to get your diploma-you don’t want that to happen!

    Tip: You don’t want to be grunting and groaning through your volunteer experience- you want to enjoy it. Remember to research and take up opportunities that you will like and have fun doing.

    Tip: Mix it up! You don’t have to pick only one type of volunteer opportunity. It may be in your best interest to do some hours at one organization and finish the rest with another.

    Revised by Erin Lynne Bouman

  • Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours with Volunteer Centres

    Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours with Volunteer Centres

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Deciding Where to Volunteer

    Deciding Where to Volunteer

    Like many students, you will need to acquire 40 hours of volunteer work before you are able to graduate. So where do you begin?

    When choosing the best place for you, there are a few considerations that you should keep in mind. The first thing to consider is location. Whether you are getting a ride from your parents, driving yourself or taking the bus, you are going to want to select a location that is convenient and accessible for you. You will want to choose something that will not be a headache to get to every time you have a shift because this could affect your attendance at your volunteer placement and potentially lead to an unfavorable outcome. By selecting a location that is convenient, you are that much closer to a successful volunteer placement.

    The next aspect to consider about your vounteer placement is the type of work that you will be doing and how the volunteering will benefit you. To find out more about the nature of the position you will apply for, you can check the company website or call the contact number and speak with someone directly. It is helpful if there is a position description that you can refer to, however keep in mind that this is not always the case. A description of the position will help you to identify if it is a good fit for your interests and skills. Choosing something that fits with your personality can help you to stay motivated and feel that you are doing a good job at your volunteer placement. This is a very fulfilling and rewarding feeling.

    In choosing a position, you may want to be adventurous and try something that you are not good at in the hopes that you might learn something new about yourself or develop a new skill. If you are choosing to be adventurous, be sure that you are being realistic about how much of a challenge the activity will be for you. Remember that you are looking for personal growth as well as looking to make a meaningful contribution to the organization that you are going to be volunteering with. Choosing something that is difficult but realistic in terms of the skills required is the best way to have a rewarding experience.

    By choosing a volunteer placement that is in a convenient location for you and that either fits your skills nicely or will present you with a reasonable challenge, you are setting yourself up for personal and professional growth. You can also look forward to a positive reference from your volunteer placement, providing you with an overall rewarding experience.

  • Get Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Get Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Get Your Volunteer Hours!

    Get Your Volunteer Hours!

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Getting Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.