We are all familiar with the effect COVID-19 has had on our lives: keeping us sheltered inside, closing businesses, turning communities into ghost towns, and hospitals into danger zones. We all feel a little helpless right now. What if there was a way for you to become a virtual volunteer, and do some good from home?
We have the answer.
A flash poll taken by MNN (Massachusetts Nonprofit Network) and Philanthropy Massachusetts shows that about 90% of nonprofit organizations anticipate to, or have already, canceled programs or events and are losing revenue due to coronavirus. After the launch of this poll, many more nonprofits have closed their offices and paused operations.
How people work with nonprofits has changed since the outbreak. Nonprofits have a harder time holding themselves up because they run off of donations and community engagement. But, the community must not engage at all. With people getting sick and losing their jobs, donating to an organization seems pretty distant during this time. People have other things on their minds than giving back to people in need because, in a way, everyone is in need right now.
This virus is affecting people’s ability to volunteer and get internships that make a difference in the world; these are two opportunities that are a large part of a young person’s growth and development as a student and as a global citizen. We came up with two programs that will help communities in need, as well as students and people who want to support nonprofit missions to do good.
Our Virtual Volunteer and Virtual Internship opportunities allow people to have the experiences we offer working with community organizations, but include the flexibility to get people involved even during times like these.
Virtual Volunteer
Volunteers working with all different organizations were in the middle of programs and missions when the coronavirus started to spread. They were sent home early feeling lost and guilty, like there’s more they should have done. But with people unable to leave their homes, traveling to another country to volunteer is impossible. We’ve come up with a way to continue giving back and supporting these communities without having to go anywhere.
United Planet’s Virtual Quests will provide you with an immersive, authentic experience. Our personalized quests make it easy to work on a project that matches your interest and skill set. As a volunteer, you will get involved with a community organization; engaging with a new culture, forging strong relationships, and challenging yourself. Your experience, although remote, will be significant and impactful to the community you serve.
Virtual Internship
Right now, students are still taking classes online and working toward their degrees. On a campus, it’s often part of the curriculum to have an internship. Those effective opportunities give students work experience in their field of study in exchange for credit. But, internships aren’t just for students. With no offices to work in, those opportunities are slim for anyone.
Our Virtual Internship program makes it possible for anyone to continue exploring career paths and get a glimpse of their possibilities while staying safe. Doing an internship online allows you to develop skills and gain real work experience from home. Just like a regular internship, you will receive supervisor evaluations and focus on your learning objectives.
A virtual internship is the key to making a meaningful difference, no matter where you are. The best part is, you are gaining valuable skills and work experience at the same time.
Our virtual opportunities are a global collaborative effort to stay connected and generous during this difficult time. For both programs, there are three different project options to choose from: children and education, global health, and environmental sustainability. See our virtual internship and volunteer page for more information. If you find yourself stuck at home itching to do something impactful and have a worthwhile experience, our new virtual programs are for you.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
