Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2015) defines it as follows:
“volunteer – noun: 1. A person who does a job without being paid for it…. 2. A person who offers sth without being forced to do it…”
“volunteer – verb: 1. To offer to sth without being forced to do it or without being paid for it…. “
I have volunteered all my life. It was what we did. If a neighbor or friend was sick you volunteered to help them, cleaned or washed for them, cooked them food and spend time with them. If someone lost a loved one you did the same, so that they could mourn in peace and not have to think about it any more. They did the same for you.
If there was a wedding or other celebration you volunteered to help out, depending on what you were good at. Some would help with decorations, others would make food (at your own cost), others would baby sit, some would provide the music or skits for the evening.
As Nurses we would volunteer during free medical camps and not expect any payment. We wanted to give back to the community and help where needed. Actually if there was a free lunch it was a welcome surprise, but not expected. You can imagine how shocked I was when I realized these days Nurses and Doctors expect to be paid for work at free medical camps. Really????? Where is that money supposed to come from?
When we sat on a board, we’d pay for our own drinks (or food) during the board meetings.
The meaning of Volunteering seems to have changed for some. Everything seems to be outsourced and you only come to complain about what you thought wasn’t done right or you would have done differently. In our money hungry and self-centered society we have forgotten the true spirit of volunteering and people expect to be paid, get allowances and generally benefit in some financial way from what they call “volunteering”. I think it is time we re-think what we call “volunteering” or “giving back”.
For me an event well organized, the thankful smile of an old Lady or a disadvantaged person, who received free medical treatment, smiling children’s faces during a children’s camp or the thankful smile and silent blessing of a neighbor is payment enough. I go home with the feeling of having done something worthwhile and having made someone’s life better. The experiences have made me grow as a person and help me put things in perspective.
In the Project Management Institute (PMI) we still embrace the spirit of volunteering. Worldwide there are over 10,000 volunteers, who tirelessly work to further project management knowledge. They have lots of fun and learn a lot. Here the Kenya Chapter has quite a number of volunteers who work for the chapter. Without being forced, without sitting allowances, without getting more business out of it or any other material benefit. However in return you get:
- Leadership skills from experience – Learning by doing among peers
- New friends for life
- A world wide Network
- Amazing knowledge resources to use and learn from
- Opportunities
for
- International volunteering
- Leadership Training in the Leadership Institute Meetings (LIM)
- Participation in the Leadership Institute Master Class (LIMC)
- An amazing Network – which for many has led to new opportunities jobwise
- Speaking opportunities in LIM and PMI conferences
- PDUs that count against keeping your certification valid
- Personal growth as a Project Manager, Manager and Leader
I can not even put a value to the amazing benefits I have had from joining PMI and starting to volunteer. They are not material benefits, which are short lived, but lifelong benefits for me as a person and growing leader.
Think about it? When have you last volunteered.