Virtual Volunteer Jade Ho
Jade Ho is a virtual volunteer who’s currently working with Akwaaba Volunteers, a Ghanaian organization that aims to brighten the future of the next generation. In this blog, she shares what her Quest was like and how it can be the perfect solution for people who can’t travel abroad to volunteer.
“My experience with the non-profit sector started when I was very young. When I was nine years old, I told my mom I wanted to fundraise for kids in the children’s hospital nearby. That started a tradition within our family. Every year around Christmas we’d buy toys to donate to kids in need,” Jade shares with us. From a young age, her parents encouraged her to look out for those who need it. This philosophy continued to guide Jade as she got older.
“When I was 13 years old, my friend introduced me to the International Order of the Rainbow For Girls in California. That’s where I got to connect with like-minded young girls and I was able to build confidence and leadership skills. Especially being someone with a disability, I did not want people’s perception of me to be limited to that.” As she grew out of her teenage years, Jade’s love for non-profit work never stopped. She realized that she wanted to continue on this path for the rest of her life.
“I actually have an Associate’s Degree in Non-profit Management and I’d love to work for a non-profit. On top of that, I’ve already built lots of experience with non-profit organizations. My time with United Planet only emphasized my love for volunteering and working with non-profit organizations. Just being able to help people is when I’m at my happiest.”
Jade first heard of United Planet during one of her classes in school. “I think it was fate that I found United Planet. My school recommended them as one of the organizations I could work with.”
United Planet’s Quest team connected Jade to Akwaaba Volunteers in Ghana. There, she prepares lesson materials from home, which the kids in school will work on. “Helping the kids despite our physical distance is very fulfilling. Seeing the kids work on the stuff I’ve prepared brings me a lot of joy.”
Kids working on Jade’s worksheet
This Virtual Quest makes it possible for Jade to make a global impact, despite her physical disability. “I never thought I’d be able to do something like this. Traveling far is difficult for me with my disability, since I depend on my wheelchair. Working from home and still working with the kids in Ghana is an incredible opportunity for me.”
Jade’s day mostly consists of preparing materials for the classes. “My day starts at 10 AM PST. I usually talk with my supervisor Jordan about what we need to accomplish for the day or the week. I mostly work with Canva and create worksheets for the classes. Every week, I present the concepts of worksheets that my supervisor Jordan will work with that week.”
With her worksheets, Jade wants to encourage leadership amongst the students. “In one of my worksheets, I ask the students to describe what a leader is using a few keywords. This makes them actively think about what a leader could be and hopefully envision themselves in that role. In addition to the classes, they also use sports to encourage this leadership.”
Example of one of Jade’s worksheets
After having volunteered with Akwaaba for a few months, Jade has some valuable advice for anyone who is looking to start a virtual Quest. “My advice for people thinking about virtual volunteering is to try it, even if you can only volunteer a couple of hours a week. Any help non-profits can get is fantastic, and the work and effort you put into virtual volunteering is appreciated. Virtual volunteering may be a new idea to some, but it can immensely impact our world if people take a chance and try it. Also, try to find a non-profit you are passionate about by looking at what the non-profits do and what the non-profit’s mission is. It will guide you to a non-profit you might enjoy volunteering for.”
Do you also want to do a virtual volunteering Quest with United Planet? Visit our virtual volunteering and internships page!
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.
