Why Volunteer?

Wars generally bring nothing but harm and destruction for humankind. Hatred and selfishness are mainly the root causes of wars, internal and external. We share the earth, because we are coincidentally born on the same planet earth. Although we are not blood relatives, we are earth mates or globe mates. Therefore, we must learn to live together in harmony. Why should we go to war against each other? Why do we have to kill others to live our lives? Why letting the poor go hungry while the rich have too much to eat. We share the earth, but why can we not share food? Surely we will die one day, so why not living in peace? It is time now to plant peace flags in every corner of the world for a change.

Why do we have to serve others? Why do we have to love others?

Let’s see our beloved parents as a vivid example. What happens if they gave birth to us and threw us away? Could we survive? ~ Definitely not. But our parents are so devoted that they even sacrifice their lives for the sakes of their children. Therefore, such a kind of love should be expanded to our brothers, sisters, relatives, neighbors, community, society, nation, and the whole world.

Volunteer Opportunities

Helping Others Can Help You

Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. But did you know that it can have many benefits for you, too?

You may have heard that volunteering helps you get into college, but keep in mind they're not just looking for a list of organizations and dates. Colleges want to see a complete picture of you, and real examples of your commitment, dedication, and interests.

Reasons to Volunteer

Gain Valuable Life Experiences and Skills

Whether you build houses for the homeless or mail flyers for a local politician, you'll experience the real world through hands-on work. You can use this experience to explore your major or career interests.

Meet Interesting People

Volunteering brings together a variety of people. Both the recipients of your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be rich sources of insight. For example, maybe you'll learn about the legal profession from a former lawyer you visit at a convalescent center.

Get Academic Credit

Some schools like Pannasatra University of Cambodia offer academic credit for volunteer work through "service-learning." This is a teaching method that integrates hands-on learning (through service to the community) into the school curriculum. It's available in high schools and colleges, as well as in earlier grades. To find out if your school offers service-learning, visit the Learn and Serve website.

Send a Signal to Colleges

Colleges pay attention to your life inside and outside the classroom. Your extracurricular activities reveal a great deal about you, such as what your interests are, whether you can manage your priorities and maintain a long-term commitment, what diversity you'd bring to the student body, and how you've made a meaningful contribution to something.

Keep in mind, colleges are not interested in seeing you do it all. It's more meaningful to colleges to see your dedication to one or two causes or activities than to see that you've spread yourself thin.

More...

Volunteering has many other intangible benefits. It can help you give back to society, break down barriers of misunderstanding or fear, explore personal issues, and even have fun.

"Community service, which was required at my high school, was a big wow with interviewers. It's even better if you can match your service with your career interest. For example, volunteer at a hospital if you're planning on med school." Faith, college student

How to Get Involved

There are many people, places, and organizations that need volunteers. Here are some tips for getting started: Look around your community and in the phone book to see what programs are there. Call and ask if they need help. Visit your city or town website. It may list volunteer opportunities in your community. Contact your local United Way, cultural arts association, student organization, or another association that can point you in the right direction. Ask your library, church or synagogue, and/or community colleges if they sponsor any volunteer groups. Check out the following websites to learn more about causes and to find volunteer opportunities near you.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Volunteer

It's important that you enjoy the type of service you choose and that you have the time to stick with it. Ask yourself these questions before you commit to an organization.

• How much time do I have to commit?
• Do I want an ongoing, regularly-scheduled assignment, a short-term assignment, or a one-time assignment?
• Am I willing to participate in a training course or do I want to start my volunteer work immediately?
• Which talents or skills do I offer?
• What would I most like to learn by volunteering?
• What don't I want to do as a volunteer?
• Do I want to work alone or with a group?
• With what kind of people do I want to work -- both in terms of who is receiving my services and who my co-workers might be?

MESSAGE FROM FOUNDERS OF YOUTH SERVICE CAMBODIA

The essence of joining us in voluntary community services is to translate idealism into actions so as to realize long lasting peace, social harmony, and sustainable development in our community. Your participation will serve as a significant contribution to building a better community where people are able to enjoy their freedom of life. People in the communities will receive our service with deep joy and satisfaction. Importantly, seeds of love and friendship will be planted in their hearts and will grow to be trees of peace. Moreover, opportunities will be granted to you to gain on-hand experience of leadership and character development. It is the most precious chance for you to see how well you can work in or lead a team and how effectively you can make a group decision. You will surely come to know more about your important role to play in your nation regarding self-improvement and country development. How much do you think we are able to serve our people, nation and even the world. NO MATTER what faith you believe in, NO MATTER what skin color you wear, and NO MATTER social class you belong to, we are willing to make friends with you. You are part of me and you and I are peace makers in action.

Let’s make a difference in our communities.