Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer Overseas

In a world where volunteering can mean anything from working at your local daycare to providing clean water to communities in Syria, volunteering is not unheard of. Volunteering, it seems like a generally good idea. I mean, you can’t really argue with anyone who suggests that doing good is…well, good, but here are the top ten reasons as to why you should.

Stuck in a rut? Change the scenery and get inspired.

Everyone has some sort of daily routine- wake up, prepare for the day, tend to your responsibilities, eventually return, wash, rinse, repeat, and hopefully sleep. When life becomes static, we tend to lose interest in the day-to-day, and quickly, at that. The cure? Get up, get active, and watch as what is in your line of vision changes, so does your perspective. Suddenly, the run-of-the-mill is no longer the only way to view the world. Get the picture?

Enhance your résumé.

To put it simply: doing good looks good. It should not be your main reasoning, but it sure helps, whether you are applying to college or for a job.

Explore.

Between exploring a new set of surroundings, you learn more about the world beyond the context of your day-to-day life. In doing so, it leaves you free to gain new experiences and garner new interests. Volunteering is a great way to delve into a unique career path or new hobbies you may never had seen yourself taking.

It’s good for you.

No really, it is! Volunteering allows you to reduce stress and boost your immune system. Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns. As well, moods and emotions, such as optimism, joy, and garnering control of one’s fate can help to strengthen the immune system.

The opportunities to learn are endless. 

Sometimes the most valuable lessons are taught out of the classroom. Going through the motions of class after class, semester after semester, isn’t enough to get the most out of your education. Applying hands-on experience is going to be among the most valuable assets to your degree, so it’s important to get involved early to optimize these opportunities.

Stop sending “friend requests,” connect in real life! 

When you volunteer, oftentimes, you find yourself working in teams. Teamwork allows for building camaraderie and lasting friendships that bloom out of shared experiences and values. As well, as a volunteer, you assist in uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal.

It’s green.

Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements. Did you know? The estimated value of a volunteer’s time is approximately $15.39 per hour! That can add up quickly.

It encourages civic responsibility.

Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community, whether on the global scale or small-town. It affects the people who live here and encourages others to step up to the plate to work towards a more efficient, more sustainable, and more livable world.

You get a chance to give back.

We spend so much time on this planet that it’s really only right that we take our opportunities to give back to the planet and to those who make our lives, livable.

As cliché as it sounds, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Can you truly say that making others happy and improving quality of life, isn’t reason enough?