About Volunteerism

Volunteerism, in its conceptual form, includes the individual or collective efforts of willing individuals, known as volunteers, to act in ways which work toward the betterment of oneself, other individuals, communities, and/or society. This definition remains subjective in its ambiguity regarding the meaning of betterment, as well as in the sense that the means to bettering oneself may be in direct opposition to the means necessary to better another individual or society.

What is Volunteering?

Volunteering is the most fundamental act of citizenship and philanthropy in our society. It is offering time, energy and skills of one's own free will.
It is an extension of being a good neighbour, transforming a collection of houses into a community, as people become involved in the improvement of their surroundings and choose to help others.
By caring and contributing to change, volunteers decrease suffering and disparity, while they gain skills, self-esteem, and change their lives. People work to improve the lives of their neighbours and, in return, enhance their own.
“Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.”

What is the difference between Volunteer work and unpaid work?

Volunteer service is offered by choice - it is not mandated or coerced. It contributes to the well-being of an individual or the community, and is usually coordinated by a nonprofit or public sector organization, and pays no salary or wages. Other forms of unpaid work include activities such as Community Service Orders and service placements required by schools. Although these offer support to the community, they have been ordered by an authority.
Volunteer work is often equated with unpaid work, and people who contribute their time and energy freely to build a better community don't necessarily get the support systems and recognition they deserve. The community needs to protect and nurture the volunteer ethic.

Who Volunteer?

Volunteers come from all walks of life, representing all ages and demographics. They volunteer for many different reasons and offer vastly different types of skills and services.
They include accountants who sit on boards, someone who is visually impaired may work by phone, another person who is developmentally challenged may tend gardens, and a new Pakistani may program computers.

Why do people volunteer?

Some have chosen to become involved so they can provide a needed service, solve a problem or advance a worthy cause; others look for personal development. Many volunteer for both altruistic and personal reasons.
People make contacts, learn skills, gain work experience, build self-esteem, improve their health, sometimes finding paying jobs and sometimes turn their lives around through volunteer work.
They don't work for money; they work for less tangible but equally important forms of remuneration such as satisfaction, appreciation and the opportunity to build skills. Volunteers are seeking increasingly meaningful responsibilities and interesting tasks, and the community must find ways to meet their needs.

What is the importance of volunteer activity in Pakistan?

Pakistan had a strong tradition of volunteering, as evidenced by its large voluntary part in October 2005 Earthquake.
Pakistan considers volunteerism to be one of the important tools for addressing the problem of exclusion. It provides a vehicle for empowering excluded population groups to gain access to opportunities.
Pakistan believes Volunteerism as a valuable asset, which needed to be strategically factored into development policies and programmes.
Local voluntary involvement is always a valuable and indispensable contribution to the improvement of social conditions, promotion of economic development and empowerment of people to take charge.  It reinforces a sense of collective responsibility and brings about a tangible difference to the lives of many.

What Islam says about volunteerism?

In Islam there is a strong ethic of volunteerism. This does not simply extend to running study circles or fundraising for the masjid. As Muslims, we see our role as world citizens. The idea of working for a better society or community shouldn't be limited to the Muslim community but should extend to the broader non-Muslim community as well. Because we live in that community too, whatever weaknesses are present affect us also.
Dawah, the idea of inviting others to Islam, takes on myriad forms. The obvious one is educating people specifically about Islam and the principles enshrined therein. But the less obvious form is through doing good works and setting an example. This is where volunteerism plays a role.
As a community, Muslims need to cultivate a culture of volunteerism. There is a persistent notion that volunteers are essentially free labour. Their efforts are not appreciated and, indeed, are often criticized. We need to shift our perception and see that it is because of volunteers that so many of the services we need are available. Entire mosques have been built through the efforts of volunteers, conferences are run by volunteers, Eid prayers are organized by volunteers, and schools are run, in large part, by volunteers, Muslim newspapers and magazines are written for and published by volunteers, and so on.

There are also some important rules to remember when volunteering:

• No volunteer is to brag about giving his time, effort, energy, knowledge and memory when he is doing it fee sabeelillah (in the way of Allah).
• No volunteer should accuse the employees that they are receiving money from the general budget of the community, while he is doing it for free.
• No volunteer should accept a job or a title for the sake of show, or else it will become hypocrisy.
• No volunteer should accept a title or a job when he knows that he is not qualified for the job.
• No volunteer should accept a title, while knowing that he has no time to volunteer for such a job.

What is NVM view about Volunteerism?





What is the value of voluntary work ethic?





As Pakistanis, we have a long tradition of volunteering to achieve our social goals, mobilizing enormous energy for the common good. Volunteers supply the human energy that drives many thousands of organizations and groups across Pakistan. Today, one in our people contribute through volunteer work in a wide range of fields including recreation, arts and culture, social services, education and health care.

Advantages of taking part in NVM activities

• We may certify your participation as practical training.
• You are able to help and to solve urgent problems in the region of Pakistan. In the social field, we care especially for kids and handicapped people. Young people who plan to work in a social profession can find valuable experience here. 
• You will meet other young people and take part in real team work, which 
  leaves lasting impressions. That is why many volunteers like to come again.
  Last but not least you are given the chance to experience different regions, 
  people, and traditions.

 

Volunteering - career benefits

 

 



Put volunteering on your CV and it makes you employable immediately.”

 

In an increasingly competitive market, it's a good idea to have something to set yourself apart from the pack. Work experience and further study are both useful, but a recent study found that three quarters of employers prefer to recruit candidates with volunteering experience on their CV.

People volunteer for all sorts of reasons," The average age of our full-time volunteers is 24. Commonly they're on some kind of gap year. They're often looking for work experience, and through volunteering develop skills that are going to help them later in life. Workplace skills such as team working, communication and relationship building are important selection criteria for most employers. And will benefit volunteers in their working careers."
Thousands of students and graduates across the country are running volunteer schemes in their local communities. Activities include working in a homeless shelter or residential school, running workshops for excluded young people, setting up a recycling project, and teaching.
Even full-time workers, who feel unable to commit to a regular time. Even full-time workers, who feel unable to commit to a regular time slot, can get involved in volunteer schemes. There’s really no excuse not to benefit your community, your CV and yourself and NVM provides you a platform to avail this opportunity nationwide.

What are some tips to getting started as a volunteer?

If you are interested in volunteering, but aren't sure where to begin, try asking yourself the following questions to determine what kind of volunteer opportunities will be best suited to you:
If you had all the human and financial resources in the world, what problem would you solve, what would you change, or what would you create? Your answer will tell you what matters the most to you.
1. What kind of time commitment are you willing to make? Are you looking for a   regular / weekly volunteer commitment or a short-term / one-time opportunity?
2. Would you like to volunteer with other people or by yourself?
3. Would you like to volunteer from your own home or would you prefer to volunteer at an organization.
4. If you would like to volunteer away from home, where is the best location for you? Near your home, your work, your child's day care?
5. Do you have specific skills or talents you would like to share with an organization?
6. Would you like to develop a specific skill?
7. What are your personal goals? Would you like to re-enter the workforce? Meet new people?

The answers to these questions will provide you with an outline of your volunteer expectations. If an organization or cause does not come immediately to mind, contact us info@nationalvolunteermovement.org

What are the questions I need to know ask as a volunteer?

What is the organization’s mission?
1. What volunteer work will I be doing? What are the opportunities for advancement and variety?
2. May I see a written job description for my volunteer work?
3. What is the required time commitment of the volunteer position? What is the time period of the position?
4. How will my volunteer work help fulfill your organization’s mission?
5. What skills will I be able to use/develop?
6. Do I have a trial period? How long is it?
7. Who is my supervisor?
8. What kind of environment (i.e. formal, hectic, and even-paced) will I be working in at your organization?
9. Will my out-of-pocket expenses be reimbursed?
10. How is your organization funded?
11. How many volunteers are involved in this program/the organization?
12. Does the volunteer position require you to run any background checks on me?
13. Can I be sued for any activities I may be involved with during my time as a volunteer here?
14. When can I start?

 Is volunteering two-way street?

Volunteering is a two-way street. Not only do the recipients of voluntary action benefit, but so, too, do the volunteers. Volunteering provides a satisfying outlet for people's talents, ambitions, and concerns in ways that are different from their regular daily responsibilities.
The importance of volunteers to nonprofit agencies is obvious. Volunteers can often make the difference in whether an agency survives, since the hours that volunteers contribute are often as valuable ­ if not more ­ as donations of money.
The benefit that volunteers themselves derive from their volunteer activity is often not so commonly recognized. The primary motivation for volunteers is reaching out and helping their community, but in so doing they also fulfill many of their own unmet needs.

What to bring?

 

Check List for OUTDOOR Volunteers

Personal Hygiene Kit includes
Tooth pate
Tooth brush
Soap/shampoo
Toilet paper
Comb/mirror
Towel
Other items to bring with are
Torch with cells
Sun cap
Sun glasses
Water bottle
Umbrella/rain coat
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Sleeper
Note book
Pen/pencil
Joggers with cotton socks
Clothing: T-shirts, casual trousers, and a pull over for changing weather is recommended + motivation and good humour.

Volunteers Support 

 

“Service is the rent we pay for living."

 

Our aim is to support important and urgent work in cases where local financial, material, and personal means are not sufficient. Beside the voluntary work that is of benefit to the public, we want to bring young people from all over the world together and offer them the chance to learn from other countries and people, and learn of their problems. Tolerance, openness, and living together in solidarity should not remain empty words. What we wish for...is that volunteers are open-minded, enterprising and tolerant. Our expectations are that they are able to work responsibly and also that they will bring their own ideas to the events.

>>>>Information on Travel, Health, Accommodation

NVM will cover all costs for traveling to and from the field site. You only pay your travel expenses from your home to our headquarters in Islamabad. Accommodation and food are free. NVM will try its level best to provide finest living arrangements for its valuable volunteers. Those who will be deployed in field will be provided with secure, clean tentage accommodation.

Code of Conduct of the Volunteer


• The Volunteer dedicates himself/herself to the well-being and dignity of the human being, and to the common good. He/she always acts in the respect of the fundamental rights of mankind. He/she does not impose his/her own moral values.
• The Volunteer respects the people he/she comes into contact with, without distinction of age, sex, race, religion, nationality, ideology or wealth.
• The Volunteer acts freely and pursues the commitments and the tasks he/she has undertaken.
• The Volunteer operates when and where he/she is mostly needed, doing what is necessary and not what is most gratifying.
• The Volunteer seeks no benefit from his/her activity. He/she does not accept presents or favours unless of very modest value.
• The Volunteer collaborates with other volunteers and fully takes part in the activities of his/her organisation. He/she attends meetings in order to reinforce his/her motivation with an indispensable team spirit.
• The Volunteer prepares himself/herself with commitment, recognising the necessity for the ongoing education carried out within his/her organisation.
• The Volunteer is bound to observe professional secrecy on all the information given to him/her as well as what he/she finds out in the course of his/her activity.
• The Volunteer honours Government laws, the statute and the regulations of his/her organisation. He/she undertakes to attract other people to the values of voluntary service.
• The Volunteer carries out his/her activity making sure everybody can identify him/her. He/she does not introduce himself/herself anonymously but offers the guaranty of being fully supported by an organisation recognised by the State laws.

 

Volunteer will not:

• Use vulgar or inappropriate language.
• Discuss any controversial topics such as politics and religion.
• Smoke, eat, or chew gum in public view.
• Solicit gratuities, gifts or bequests for personal or professional benefit.
• Consume or be under the influence of alcohol or consume tobacco at events.
• Discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status or disability, and, in accordance with University policy, sexual orientation.

DOS & DON’T’S

 

Do's and Don'ts of Successful Volunteering

“Volunteers polish up the rough spots in our communities."

 

Do's of Successful Volunteering

• Be flexible. It is rare to find the? Perfect? Fit right away.  Keep an open mind! You might discover something new that interests you.
•  Be persistent.  Volunteer coordinators are often busy, so don’t assume they’re not interested in you if they don’t call you right away.
• Attend orientation meetings.  Keep in mind that informed volunteers are the best volunteers.  These meetings will help you do the best job possible.
• Take necessary training classes.  Ask about them before you decide to get involved and be prepared to learn what will be needed.
• Be responsible.  Show up on time and follow through with your commitments.  People will be depending on you.
• Expect to get plenty of personal enjoyment and satisfaction from your volunteer experience

 

 

Don'ts of Successful Volunteering

• Don’t expect to start at the top.  You have to work hard and prove your worth before you are given more responsibility.

 

• Don’t think that volunteering has to be a group effort.  You can start your own volunteer program and do it on your own time
• Don’t underestimate the challenges that might be a part of your volunteer experience? With challenges can come great growth!

 

Training in six general areas:

• Inter-personal skills.
• Communication skills.
• Organizational and managerial skills.
• Fundraising skills.
• Technical skills.
• Enhanced knowledge of health, women's issues, political questions, criminal justice, and the environment.

 

I want to Volunteer

Get yourself registered as

 Volunteer (registration form)

 





Organization (registration form)

Donors (registration form)




What every Volunteer must know?

1. Information on Travel
2. Information on Health
3. Information on Cost
4. Information on Accommodation
5. What to bring?
6. Volunteer Support
7. Project Information
8. DOS & DON’T’S
9. Code of Conduct for Volunteers