VOLUNTEERING (Itziar Jimenez, Basque Country)
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- Created on Monday, 06 March 2017 09:21
- Written by basquecountry
VOLUNTEERING
(Itziar Jimenez, Bilbao Basque Country)
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain "to benefit another person, group or organization". This kind of dynamics are advantageous for all the citizens in the world but it is true that the organisations that develop this movements concentrate on the needy. More than 702 million people live under the poverty line all around the world and it is because of this that all the aid is guide to them.
Nowadays, the economic and political situation is alarming in the majority of countries. Nevertheless, people all around the world go into these social initiatives although the ones that have less means are the ones that show more concern about the awful reality. The participation in volunteering is higher countries like Myanmar and worryingly low in places like China.
There is a wide range of volunteering types among which the most usual nowadays are the following.
First of all we can talk about the help to the elderly. This kind of volunteering has been lately increasing due to the continuous aging of the society caused mainly by the improvements on health care. In Bilbao, for instance, there's an organisation focused on this aim that works with students who volunteer as part of the “ethics” subject.
Secondly, it's worth mentioning a really contemporary concept like the constant influx of refugees as this has created as a consequence a lot of voluntary work. Due to the conflictive situation in Syria and the surrounding countries a lot of refugees have fled their country seeking for security, and they find themselves in need of food, a house and learn the language of the country they immigrate to. Because of this, the volunteering work focused on this cause increases in some countries while in others there's a lack of awareness on the matter.
In third place, work fields are an increasingly frequented voluntary work nowadays, mainly among students. They can last either one or several months depending on the type of work (agriculture work, environmentally friendly work...) and the destination chosen, and it's usually done in summer. As for me, I've been looking into this kind of volunteering both inside Spain and in Europe and am considering going this summer.
Last but not least, voluntary work aimed to help mentally and physically disabled people has always been very important.
This kind of volunteering focuses more in daily attention providing entertainment, company and help with basic needs to these people. The latter is usually done by people with a minimum preparation, nevertheless everyone can help in different ways.
To sum up, as far as I'm concerned volunteering is a very important activity which is underestimated due to the little awareness there is in society about its need. I believe by being a volunteer you don't only help the ones in need but you grow richer as a person. In the end volunteering work is necessary to reach the empathy that the world needs in order to be a better place for everyone.