Connecting with people who have, in some instances, been stripped of all their human dignities can change your world view. Travelling abroad to a third-world setting won’t see volunteers living too harshly, although they may have to do without some of their familiar homely comforts. But it’s not all bad. Your world view also changes when you immerse yourself in other wonderful cultures and explore the different ways people love, share, and celebrate their lives. A change in your word view removes the “I” perspective and replaces it with a “we” perspective.
1. You connect with compassion
As soon as your world view encompasses a sense of “we”, you develop a greater understanding of the suffering around you. It is difficult to grasp hardship simply by hearing stories of it. When you are part of the group pulling people out of it, you get an in-depth understanding of it. It’s like bearing witness to it as it comes to an end, the effects of suffering still present. Volunteers develop a deep sense of compassion which comes back home with them and extends to all of their family and friends.
2. You meet amazing people who change the course of your life forever
Volunteering is a powerful way to gain visibility and exposure in your career, whether you are trying to start up your own business or gain your first employment offer. It looks great on your resume and it also instils in you a number of soft skills and a deep appreciation for job opportunities. Volunteering also puts you in touch with a number of people – many of them are corporate sponsors who can be powerful allies in business. Many long term business partners, clients and service providers, and even employers and employees met on a mutual charity trip.
3. You change the course of someone else’s life forever
Let’s talk about the real purpose of volunteering. You’re part of someone else’s healing and their ascent out of a horrific situation. That doesn’t only last for the duration of your trip – for the rest of that person’s life, you will be part of their story in the most profound way.
Volunteer: Add a sense of purpose to your life
If you struggle to find meaning to life, if the monotony of the same routine day in and day out is dull and boring, try volunteering. It’s like the ice cubes that have been missing from your room temperature water. You’re in a new country, getting to know a new culture, meeting people with incredible stories, and you’re doing something meaning and lifechanging both for yourself and for the recipients.
Hair Aid seeks to empower people with real skills. By teaching individuals how to cut hair, they are able to make a living for themselves and transcend their challenging backgrounds.
