I am currently looking for volunteer jobs since I am kind of free these days. I really want to do things that would help others and would open up my mind to different perspectives and ideas.
Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
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Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#2I'm not sure if this is strictly volunteering, but I worked as an unpaid intern for a human rights organization. The diversity there was incredible. I worked with people from five different continents, several different religious beliefs, and vastly different upbringings. Even though I went to a fairly diverse school (racially speaking, at least), growing up in the suburbs tends to have a homogenizing effect on the people you meet.
The work itself really opened my eyes too. I came in with the idea that human rights was basically stuff like no torture, no war crimes, freedom of religion/expression, etc. But when I worked there I learned about the idea of social and economic rights, which in a nutshell is the idea that the human rights abuses I mentioned above are often linked to a lack of social or economic progress among certain groups, and that poverty was in a way a form of economic repression that paved the way for other human rights abuses. I'm still not sure to what extent I believe all of that is true, but I never would have thought about it if I hadn't worked there.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#3I'm not sure if this is strictly volunteering, but I worked as an unpaid intern for a human rights organization. The diversity there was incredible. I worked with people from five different continents, several different religious beliefs, and vastly different upbringings. Even though I went to a fairly diverse school (racially speaking, at least), growing up in the suburbs tends to have a homogenizing effect on the p…
May I ask how did you get the opportunity to work there?
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#4After university I volunteered at a social centre for the blind in the UK. I had a great time helping people who were blind and being part of their social circle.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#55 years ago I joined my local fire brigade. It has changed my life in multiple ways:
- I met a lot of new people who I am mostly good friends with - you learn to trust people and understand their strengths and weaknesses - you feel better about yourself because you help others - my life got more balanced as I have an office job and operating heavy machinery is totally different. I also made my driver's license for trucks, trailers and the fire boat we have. - there is a lot of testosterone involved with fire fighters ;) so I learned to better deal with conflicts
If you only have a couple of days/weeks this might not be for you as this volunteer job requires a lot of dedication. But it definitely has changed my life very much to the better!
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#6I volunteered at a homeless shelter for a few weeks. Totally changed my outlook on life. I am much slower to judge, I am very careful not to waste and moan a lot less. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#7An eye opener for me was Junior Achievement (www.juniorachievement.org). I volunteered until recently for two years in a public school in a low-income neighbourhood. It's a program where volunteers go to primary and secondary/high schools to "...foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential."
I had done volunteer work before, initiatives organised by my past employers, but these where one-day "lets paint an entire community centre/chapel/etc" initiatives, with no real exposure to people and issues. This was the first time I volunteered by my own initiative and the experience was nothing what I expected, for good and bad.
All I can say is go for it.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#8Canadian Mental Health Association, because I had so much in common with the people there, and the local food bank, because a year later I ended up needing the service myself. It saved my life.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#9I am not sure whether this counts or not, but last year I started a TEDx event. My own motivation was that after graduation, it was so difficult to make new geek friends.
- Inviting people to TEDx has been a great excuse to reach total stranger, and to ask them about their work. - Organizing event is to "get things done in the real world", (which I believe to be) the same skill set for a startup. - Working with people really helps me to get to know them. I have since found my future business partner.
Re: Ask HN: What kind of volunteer jobs have you done that have changed your life?
#10Avid volunteer here, and I would say that it is one of the best gifts you can get yourself. Seriously. Get out of the echo-chamber(s) that make up life, help your community, and observe real issues/hardship.
My staples are a food bank, nursing home, and a local NPR station. The first two are by far much more eye opening and rewarding. Lots of "one-off" volunteering as well, though these are not as good IMO. Hospital health drives, community bike races, libraries, eco-related stuff.
The more personal and reoccurring volunteering is what will likely impact you (and others) most. I find a couple times a month helps to keep me centered and remind me of how silly some problems are in life.