This collective article brings together personal experiences and opinions on the meaning and importance of volunteering by the four current e-volunteers at IYNF. Enjoy the reading!

Introduction

As the beloved character Winnie the Pooh once said, “The smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” This quote reminds us that even small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on the world around us. In this article, we will explore how volunteering not only benefits those in need but also helps us grow personally and connect us with others. Plus, we will share some exciting ways you can get involved! So, let’s dive in and discover the wonderful world of volunteering!

But before starting, let’s do a quick game intro: Ready to put your word-finding skills to the test? This word search is all about volunteering and the values that make it meaningful—community, teamwork, selflessness, and more! Your challenge is to find all the hidden words related to volunteering in the grid.

Whether you’re a dedicated volunteer or just learning about its impact, this game is a fun way to reflect on the positive qualities that drive social change. Grab a pen (or play online) and start searching!

Personal Benefits of Volunteering, Issues in our Countries addressed by Organizations, and our own Definition of Volunteering

George: Volunteering means helping others without expecting anything in return. It’s a fantastic way to make friends, learn new things, and feel good about yourself! Let me share why volunteering is so important and how you can join in.

When a devastating earthquake struck Syria in February 2023, people came together to help. Just like Hermione Granger said in *Harry Potter*, “We’re all in this together.” Everyone worked hard to gather food, clothes, and medical supplies for those in need. This experience highlighted how crucial it is to care for one another.

Through volunteering, I have learned many valuable skills, such as teamwork and problem-solving. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I helped baking cookies and creating hand sanitizers to raise money for individuals who needed oxygen tanks. Working alongside my friends taught me how to cooperate and communicate more effectively.

Volunteering has also brought me happiness and a sense of purpose. I co-founded a charity called Hassek Fik under the umbrella of Juzzour, which supports children with Down syndrome. We channeled our love into raising funds for medical equipment during the pandemic while also assisting in various initiatives through Juzzour. It was incredibly rewarding to see how we could make a difference in their lives. As Harry Potter wisely noted, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

There are countless ways to volunteer in your community. You can collect donations for those in need or assist local organizations that support various causes. Every little bit helps! When we worked together during the earthquake relief efforts, we demonstrated the power of teamwork.

Ellen: My most meaningful volunteering experience was at a summer camp in Do Son, Vietnam. I developed educational activities for children aged 5 to 15, focusing on sustainability. These activities included making bio-dishwashing liquid and teaching basic Python programming for simple robots. This hands-on experience allowed me to share knowledge while watching young minds discover new concepts.

Hosting a debate on environmental issues in Do Son, Vietnam.

Volunteering provided me with valuable skills that benefit both my personal and professional life. I improved my event-organizing abilities while planning activities for diverse age groups. Teamwork became essential through close collaboration with fellow volunteers. My communication skills improved as I explained complex topics to children. Problem-solving under pressure became second nature, illustrated by our response to a shortage of lemon peels during our bio-dishwashing liquid activity, where we quickly found creative substitutes.

The connections I made during volunteering proved invaluable for my career. I met several professionals interested in my field who later supported my scientific work. These relationships wouldn’t have developed in typical professional settings, demonstrating how volunteering creates unique networking opportunities.

On a personal level, volunteering filled me with a genuine sense of purpose that is elusive elsewhere. After each session, I would go home feeling lighter, happier, and surprisingly energized despite the physical demands. This dynamic established a powerful cycle where helping others compelled me to continue learning and growing. Using my skills to enhance someone else’s life is not just fulfilling; it is a continuous source of motivation that drives me to wake up each day and do it all over again.

Beyond personal growth, volunteering plays a crucial role in building a better society. Through volunteer work, communities become more connected, environmental challenges are addressed, and educational gaps are narrowed. Each volunteering opportunity, whether teaching children about sustainability or cleaning up waterways, contributes to a more compassionate and sustainable world. As more people embrace volunteering, our collective capacity to solve complex social and environmental problems grows, making our society incrementally better with each act of service.

While volunteering has enriched my personal and professional journey, its significance transcends individual experiences. Across Vietnam, passionate volunteers are making strides to address pressing environmental challenges, particularly in waste management. This issue affects both urban centers and rural areas, underscoring the necessity for collective action to achieve sustainable change.

Vietnam faces major waste management challenges, generating around 69,000 tons of waste daily. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone produce 7,000–8,000 tons each day. Despite waste’s potential as a resource, inefficient practices persist, relying on landfills and manual incineration. Only 120 out of 660 landfills meet sanitary standards, with the Southeast and Red River Delta being the most affected regions.

Numerous local organizations are actively tackling these environmental issues, with Sài Gòn Xanh (Green Saigon) emerging as a standout initiative. Their vision is clear: to transform Vietnam into a model country for environmental protection, starting with the imperative task of improving water quality in Ho Chi Minh City (Sài Gòn Xanh, n.d.). They conduct cleanup activities three to four times per week, mobilizing young professionals for short yet impactful efforts in canals and sewers.

Their approach combines cost-effective tools, eco-friendly cleaning products, and social media engagement to promote sustainable habits. While already effective, they are integrating advanced technologies and water filtration methods to enhance their impact.

Vietnam offers many volunteer opportunities, from cleanups and waste education to policy advocacy and waste innovation. Sài Gòn Xanh exemplifies how grassroots efforts can drive meaningful environmental change.

To me, volunteering is simply about doing something kind for the world while feeling good about it. Whether it’s cleaning up a city canal, advocating for better policies, or educating others on sustainability, every effort contributes to a better future. By stepping forward, we not only help our communities but also find fulfillment in knowing we are making a difference.

Aleksandr: For me, volunteering is an activity that has many benefits. I will try to explain it more concretely with the example of my experience. I started volunteering when I was still in secondary school in a small town. I was involved in local environmental volunteering as part of the school volunteer group, cleaning up litter in our village parks and organising sports activities for children under the guidance of our biology teacher. This was the first time I realised volunteering is a great way to develop soft skills such as teamwork and problem solving. It’s also a great platform for networking – you get to meet interesting and active people who would be hard to meet in other circumstances.

I found even more opportunities to volunteer when I moved from a small town to a big city to study at a medical university. I managed to be an organiser of a student musical talent show, a social media specialist for the student union, a technician at a medical conference and even an organiser of an international summit on community development. As well as the soft skills mentioned above, I also acquired hard skills such as working with text and social media, experience in negotiating with landlords, and the technicalities of organising scientific conferences. These skills will be useful in my future career as a medical researcher, so volunteering can also be a good preparation for a  professional life.

In the summer of 2024, I finally found the opportunity to become an international volunteer by joining the IYNF team. This allows me to revisit the environmental issues I was actively involved in during my school years, and also gives me a long-awaited experience in intercultural communication. Where else would I be able to meet and work with people from different parts of the world than in an international organisation? Intercultural communication skills are very important in today’s world full of international projects and volunteering is a great opportunity to acquire them.

One of the most colourful parts of my volunteering life has emerged since the end of last year. I have been volunteering with a non-profit organisation that helps people living with HIV. Thanks to this, I have finally been able to use my medical knowledge not only to get good grades in my university exams, but also to actually help people. This gives me a great sense of satisfaction and motivation to constantly improve my medical knowledge and study hard. In this way, volunteering can be a motivation for education.

Volunteers from the Foundation for Assistance to People Living with HIV in Moscow.

Volunteers are people who can make a very significant contribution to helping society. Let me give you a vivid and very recent example from the life of my country. Last December, there was an accident involving two oil tankers in the Black Sea off the coast of Krasnodar Region. Several tonnes of fuel oil leaked into the water and the coast was faced with horrendous oil pollution. Marine life, especially birds, was badly affected. Volunteers were the main force that rushed to clean up the consequences of the accident from the first days of the disaster. Their contribution during the accident was so significant that it deserves its own article.

Miguel: For me, volunteering is about sharing my time and skills to create positive change in the world while growing personally. It means stepping outside my comfort zone to help solve real-world problems. Volunteering is a journey of continuous learning. Ultimately, it’s a two-way street where helping others enriches my own life, equipping me to become a more effective, compassionate, and resourceful individual.

Volunteering has changed my life in many ways, and I’ve learned so much from working in different parts of Europe. In Spain, I worked as a shepherd, taking care of goats and learning how to make cheese. This hands-on work taught me the value of patience and caring for nature. Later, in France, I helped rebuild an old chateau, which taught me basic construction skills and the importance of teamwork. In Portugal, I spent time on a permaculture farm where I learned sustainable farming techniques—growing vegetables and taking care of animals in a natural way. In Germany, I volunteered at a World War II museum, which broadened my understanding of history and international relationships. I also had the chance to teach English to children in France, which improved my communication skills.

Another major benefit of my volunteer work has been the improvement of my language skills. Living and working in different countries forced me to adapt to new languages and practice them daily. These opportunities not only boosted my confidence in speaking multiple languages but also helped me better understand and appreciate the cultures around me. Beyond skill development, volunteering has offered me a sense of fulfillment, expanded my cultural horizons, and opened up new career opportunities through networking.

These experiences have shown me how interconnected our world is and how small, local actions can have a global impact. That’s why I’m particularly inspired by organizations tackling environmental challenges, like the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI) in the Philippines.

The Philippines is facing a critical environmental crisis—deforestation. The rapid loss of forests isn’t just devastating biodiversity and disrupting ecosystems; it’s also fueling climate change and threatening the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos. Between 2001 and 2022, the country lost 1.42 million hectares of tree cover—a 7.6% decrease in its total forest area. This has led to a massive release of CO₂ emissions and has thrown ecosystems and communities out of balance. PRRCFI is stepping up to address this crisis. Originally focused on protecting Danjugan Island as a marine reserve, the organization has expanded its mission to include rainforest conservation. Through programs like their Environmental Education Program, they’re working with schools to teach sustainability and have mentored 143 scholars in fields like fisheries, forestry, and agriculture. By empowering local communities to adopt sustainable practices, PRRCFI is helping protect what’s left of the Philippines’ forests and creating a brighter future for both the people and the planet.

Mangrove restoration project in the Philippines (One Earth Organization).

Encouraging more People to Volunteer

If you’re a young person looking to make a difference, volunteering is one of the most powerful tools you have. You can start small and use your skills, passions, and curiosity to take action. Love social media? Share stories about environmental issues or sustainable living tips to inspire others. Good at organizing? Plan a local cleanup, a tree-planting day, or a fundraiser for a cause you care about. You don’t need to travel far to volunteer—many communities need help with eco-projects, education, or disaster relief right where you are. Platforms like Workaway, WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), or UN Volunteers connect you to opportunities worldwide, from teaching English to supporting reforestation projects.

Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s about developing yourself too. You’ll gain skills like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving while tackling real-world challenges.You can join virtual volunteering projects like translating for Translators Without Borders or analyzing data for Zooniverse. Even a few hours a week can make an impact. You can find projects aligned with your interests on Idealist or reach out and volunteer at International Young Naturefriends to show your love for nature . The world will benefit from your energy, creativity, and voice. The planet doesn’t need perfection—it needs people who care enough to try.

Things to be wary of

It is important to be not only active and inspired, but also sensible and careful when volunteering internationally. Remember that there are certain risks involved. Let’s look at the main ones.

  1. Fraud and financial scams

Some scammers set up fake websites or organisations offering non-existent volunteer programmes to trick gullible people into giving money or personal information. Do your research before working with any organisation.

  1. Illegal volunteering

Participating in volunteer projects without the appropriate visa or permit may be considered illegal employment in some countries. This can result in fines or deportation. Always check the legal requirements of the country where you intend to volunteer.

  1. Exploitation and unethical practices 

Volunteers may be involved in programmes that exploit local people or, in some cases, perpetuate the problems they seek to solve. For example, some fake ‘orphanages’ in developing countries exploit children by posing as orphans to attract donations and volunteers. 

  1. Unsatisfactory working and living conditions

Some volunteer programmes do not provide safe or acceptable living and working conditions, which can lead to physical or emotional stress for volunteers. Remember that you deserve a comfortable working environment. It is a big plus to look at testimonials from volunteers who have already been involved in the project.

  1. Over-commercialisation of volunteering

Some organisations offer high-value volunteering programmes where a significant proportion of the money is spent on administrative costs rather than supporting local communities. This can lead to a situation where volunteers pay large sums of money to participate, but their contribution has minimal positive impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and acquaintances, gain valuable experience, try something new and do something really meaningful with your own hands. If you approach it with heart and mind, it will bring you many positive emotions and benefits. As the famous British actress Audrey Hepburn said, “As you grow older, you will find that you have two hands, one to help yourself and the other to help others”. I think this statement is very true and I encourage our readers to see for themselves by joining a great community of volunteers.

Sources and References