5 Myths About Volunteering

By Divyana Das Volunteering is something that the world needs right now more than ever before. Yet, there are so many people who hesitate to do so. Yes. The current scenario does induce a certain sense of fear in our minds. And yes. That is completely valid and understandable. But, within this arises the biggest misconception about volunteering - volunteering is not just about physical contributions. Similarly, even before the pandemic started people have always been hesitant to volunteer owing to a large number of misconceptions. A few of which we will try to dispel today.

1. Volunteering is all about grunt work

Sure, physical work like food drives, plantation programmes and institutional help among

many others might seem like the only forms of volunteering but this particular field is

extremely vast. We can all contribute in any way which is possible for us. If you can’t

physically go out for food drives then volunteer to teach children from low-income

families online. If it’s not possible for you to help out at your local orphanage, you ask

your family and friends to help donate clothes that they can reuse.

2. Volunteering requires a lot of time

This is perhaps one of the most common and biggest myths about volunteering.

Remember - volunteering is not something that is forced or compulsory. It is something

you choose to do out of your own goodwill and you can do it at your own convenience.

It's not like a school or an office, there are no fixed days or timings. If you can’t take out time on weekdays, volunteer for 1-2 hours on a weekend. It's not about the amount of

time you spend but rather how you choose to spend it.

3. Volunteering is a Big Responsibility

People believe volunteering is about changing the world overnight or something along those lines. Whereas, most of the time the work we do is changing one person’s life one step at a time. But this doesn’t take away the impact of our work. We need to work responsibly but the work is extremely rewarding so there’s no need to feel burdened.

4. Volunteering is for Young People

‘Age is just a number’. No matter how cliche that sounds, it's true. There is no age limit

for volunteering. You can volunteer if you are 18, 35 or 60+. Volunteering is all about

you and your attitude towards life.

5. Only if You’re Selfless Can You Volunteer

You don’t have to be a self-sacrificing saint to be a good volunteer. You just need a little

compassion and a little patience to be able to help make a difference. And please know

that no human is born with these qualities. It is not an innate disposition and it might just

be something you gain from volunteering.

If you're still confused about where to begin, why not start right here with us. We are currently organising online classes for children from low-income families and online health and hygiene discussions for women from these communities. You can reach us at naatasop@gmail.com or you can reach us through our website and social media pages and get involved.