r/volunteer

I know most volunteer programs has a minimum age limit of 18 years but i would really love to join anything that is possible. Though im not skilled on the "teaching" aspect, im willing to try anything that could benefit a community or anything for that matter. I just want to get some experience because im planning/ want to join some volunteer programs irl when i successfully get out of the country im currently living in (im plannong to but thats in a few years). Im wondering if anyone has anything that could help me:D

All replies are very appreciated!!

Tysm for your time:))

I'm looking to volunteer for any role, preferably mobile and remote. I'm open to learning on the job. I communicate well, and I'm in healthcare, so please feel free to reach out to me. My dms are open!

Thank you!

Given everything that is happening, I’d like to volunteer and help teach kids/adults who might not have access to the best resources readily available to them. I teach english.

I have experience teaching internationally and I feel that instead of being powerless, and watching the conflict escalate from abroad, the least I can do is offer my time to help kids and adults who are curious about learning English.

If you or someone you know would benefit from English lessons, please let me know!

I have around 5 hours a week to give to students who might be interested.

My experience lies predominantly in 1-1 classes with business English and conversational English at the forefront. I have also taught kids from 2.5 years old and up!

Let me know if you know the best way to go about this. Thank you!

hi there!

a year ago, i began a volunteer organization called The Checkmate Project.

now, im launching it to the public.

YOU can be a tutor for something - i guarantee it.

math? science? english? history? DANCE? CHESS? UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING?

anything.

and, you get volunteer hours for tutoring it!

BUT WAIT GET THIS!

you dont have to LEAVE YOUR HOUSE. just sit in that chair of yours and teach online!

we have a website (www.checkmateproject.com) where you get your own tutor dashboard. u just sit tight - we'll find you the students.

+ volunteer hours, letters of recommendation, and opportunities to be a part of our tutor summit and get recognized as a top 1% tutor.

+ elite positions to put on your college apps!

interested? comment here or dm!

I’m starting as a volunteer at a small law firm very soon. I’m super nervous and i’ve never really volunteered for anything like this.

For context, i’m a HS senior and most of my work will be administrative - mainly invoices, photocopy, closing files, etc. Super easy, though the concept of invoices stress me out.

I’ll only be there for less than 2hrs and will bring a notebook for notes if needed. I’m very eager to learn but don’t want to seem stupid

Any advice would be nice - How was your first time working/volunteering at a law firm? What would you have done differently?

My main goal is to ask more questions and not let myself figure things out on my own.

My daughter is a D1 athlete entering her senior year of college and recently found out she can graduate in December instead of staying through spring semester.
Originally, she planned to study abroad in the spring because she loves travel, the ocean, and being part of a built-in community/group experience. She grew up and went to school in same state so that is part of it too.
Now we’re wondering if there are meaningful programs, jobs, volunteer opportunities, or community-based experiences she could do instead during that spring/gap period before working for a year or two and then applying to PA school. She also has very limited clinical/shadowing hours because athletics + academics have taken up most of her time.

She’d love something that:

gets her outside the country

exposes her to different communities/perspectives

allows her to be part of a group/community

provides healthcare, service, or public health exposure

is genuinely helpful/ethical (not “voluntourism”)

She’s not looking to just backpack around with friends. She really wants purpose, structure, and growth from the experience. As well as some weekend travel like she would have had from a semester abroad experience.

Has anyone done something like this or know of programs/jobs/opportunities that would be well-regarded and meaningful both personally and professionally before PA school applications?

We keep seeing a lot of 1-3 week experiences that do seem a bit voluntourism-ish. While not bad, I think she is looking for a bit more to give and get from the 4 months. She could go right into her time at a hospital racking up paid hours but we think this could be a great opportunity for her to learn more about the world and herself.

Thoughts? Really hoping to learn about programs or organizations that might fit the bill. Thanks!

Does anyone know of any remote or online volunteer opportunities for highschool students in the medical/stem field ? Any recommendations besides shadowing a doctor would be amazing ! Particularly if it involved research or anything similar, thanks!

Many recruitment agencies require people to pay to volunteer. While there are some advantages for certain people, paying is not always necessary. In fact, some volunteer organizations actually pay you to volunteer. It sounds strange but a "paid volunteer" is a real thing. What do you think of paying to volunteer?

If I agree to volunteer at an event, they sign me up, I get there and they say they have enough people already, to go home. Would it be okay to ask them to reimburse me for gas expenses incurred in driving there? I already cancelled other things so I could volunteer and feel let down that I get there and they say just go home.

I’ve been volunteering overseas for 10 years in 14 different placements and I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer going with a friend rather than going alone.
I’ve done both solo volunteering and volunteering with a platonic friend, and there are advantages to each. 
Going alone can push you to become more independent and meet new people more quickly. I personally like going somewhere where I know nothing and have to figure everything out. It’s a great way to connect with people and culture.   But for me, having a friend along often makes the overall experience more meaningful and enjoyable.
You have someone to share the experience with and explore with during your free time. It can also make things safer and less stressful in unfamiliar and often dodgy environments. In some cases, you can share accommodation, transportation, or other expenses. You don’t have to spend every second together. Sometimes you might like to be alone.
I’m not talking about traveling with a romantic partner but someone who shares a similar mindset about ethical volunteering and world travel.
Do you prefer going alone or with a friend? What do you see as the pros and cons of each?  And the big challenge is finding someone suitable. 

Hi I’m just curious, are you still active in volunteering even after school era? Especially not just during individual events/causes but actually joining a volunteer organization as a full on member. I just think there are more opportunities to participate only when you’re still a student. Plus, as an adult you have a more hectic work schedule keeping you from it. So for those who still do, why do you do it?

What projects are your favourites btw? Do you find it more fun, fulfilling, or stressful? How did you join at first?

Hi everyone! I’m interested in doing some volunteer work with elderly people, but I’m not quite sure what kind of activities would be appropriate.

I’m looking for something inclusive and unisex, and the only idea I’ve come up with so far is maybe doing reading sessions.

Does anyone here have experience with this or suggestions on activities that work well? I’d really appreciate any advice!

Is it common for nonprofit employees to micromanage volunteers and do volunteers’ jobs? I’m trying to figure out what went wrong here:

For several years, I have been a volunteer leader of a local chapter of a multinational nonprofit. I have two other volunteers on my team, A and B. Our job is mostly holding events for people in a specific industry. All events are free and the nonprofit has low revenues.

For several years, A and I held events about once a month and grew the local membership.

Then the nonprofit hired a national director (ND), overseeing all chapters in the United States. ND lives in our city.

ND micromanages us and does our jobs:

1. My job is to organize local events and direct local activities. ND has monthly planning meetings with me, but ND either totally ignores my proposals for events or agrees about them, but ND never lists my proposed events on the organization’s calendar, so none of my proposals ever are done.

2. ND proposes events about certain topics (for example, artificial intelligence in a certain industry). One of my volunteer team members, B, is a nationally-known expert about AI in that industry, but ND organizes events in AI in the industry and doesn’t even include B at all.

3. ND wanted to lighten ND’s workload, so ND informed me that B was becoming a volunteer leader. I like B, but ND now ignores B and won’t even allow B to speak at events, even though B is a great speaker (and when ND missed an event, I had B speak and B was great).

4. Midway through this year, ND announced that the nonprofit now has term limits for my role, and for the same role in other chapters. ND emailed me a few times, telling me that the local chapter needs a new leadership team in place by the end of the year.

When I responded to ND that I could quit immediately, rather than waiting until the end of my current term, ND denied that there were term limits and told me that ND really wanted to keep working with me, and that my departure was purely my decision.

So we have a nonprofit‘s paid employee micromanaging volunteers and doing their jobs and shutting the volunteers out of any participation in the organization, leaving the volunteers with nothing to do, and telling the volunteers that they aren’t wanted…but are deeply wanted.

Is this common? Did my volunteer teammates and I perhaps just totally screw up?

Hey! Does anyone know about volunteering programs, internships, volunteer, or similar opportunities that offer:

• Accommodation & food
• Pocket money
• Travel funding ✈️

(that you’d personally recommend)

Workaway and Worldpackers is hard for me since most of the expenses still fall on you, and sometimes you even have to pay to participate.

i did and internship before that offered accommodation + food, and then a programme that offered: accommodation + food + pocket money + help with the travel. So I know I’m not asking for something impossible

i have experience with: social media /marketing/graphic design. - Leadership - workshops - working with kids (as in teaching, not babysitting) - NGO’s - Project Assistant.

im from Colombia and im open to different countries

Hi there,

Can anyone direct me to a place where I can volunteer with horses in equine therapy this summer (Ireland/Europe preferably).

Does anyone know anything about a voluntary organisation called freepackers?

I have contacted them but won't get any solid info until after I pay a €300 deposit. Worried it could be a scam.

If anyone had any info, please pass it on.

Thanks!

I'm a first year health science student looking to gain experience before I apply to pharmacy school, as ~200 hours are required for a chance of admission. I've called around 25 pharmacies in my area asking if they take volunteers and/or shadowing and I've received a hard no from almost every single one. I haven't fully given up on calling and asking but its definitely discouraging and seems to be leading me nowhere.

My program offers co-op summer of second year but I've heard its pretty competitive and similar experience is most likely needed to guarantee a position too, since I cant rely on only my GPA.

Is there anything else I can do?