Navigating the Lows of Volunteering
Volunteering with an NGO can be fascinating due to the variety of jobs and experiences it provides. Volunteers frequently witness tangible results and positive improvements firsthand, which fuels a sense of accomplishment. Collaborating with like-minded people from diverse backgrounds leads to significant connections and friendships. But wait! Just like the two sides of a coin, what lies on the other side of volunteering? Will the experience always be so enjoyable? Will you always feel that sense of fulfillment? Ideally, the answer should be yes, but not if you resonate with Sid.
Meet Sid, once an effervescent soul full of passion and purpose in his volunteering journey, until the whispers of pessimism began to eclipse his fervor. His inquisitive nature led him to trace the origin of his fading enthusiasm, and he stumbled upon revelations that illuminated the darker aspects of his experience. Sid identified several factors that collectively disrupted his happy journey. Let us analyze the situation from Sid’s perspective and also try to find a solution.
Overstepping Boundaries: Sid often found himself entangled in webs of discomfort as fellow volunteers intruded into his personal space. This discomfort led Sid to interact less with his team and eventually seek another volunteering opportunity.
Commitment Conundrum: Fueled by unbridled optimism, Sid always signed up for every volunteering event, only to find himself trapped in a maze of overcommitment. He struggled to maintain balance, teetering on the brink of exhaustion.
Closed-Mindedness: Sid was rigid in his ideology and beliefs and often imposed his ideas on fellow volunteers. Considering himself the beacon of righteousness affected his communication with the team.
Empathy Eclipse: Amidst the overwhelming activities, Sid’s empathy began to fade. The chasm between ‘being’ a volunteer and ‘acting’ as a volunteer was so significant that the experience left him with no fulfillment.
Pessimistic Approach: Sid often found himself so overworked with other tasks in his life that he started skipping volunteering opportunities. The missed opportunities haunted him and filled his mind with guilt and pessimism.
Once the problems were identified, Sid quickly cast aside the cloak of disillusionment. His experience has taught us what to avoid to make the best out of our volunteering journey. We should strive to create an environment that is optimistic, flexible, transformative, and caring for our fellow volunteers. But all the while, we must also care for our health and well-being because we matter! Navigating through the shadows can be challenging, but the possibilities that lie beyond the darkness can illuminate not only your life but also the lives you touch!
