The Concept of HELP
The Concept of HELP
26.02.2025 | By Silvia
To explore deep concepts such as “solidarity” and “humanism,” we can perhaps start with the interpretation of one word that appears simple and easy, but hides a thousand meanings within: the word “help”.
What does it mean “to help”? What is the difference between help and collaboration? How can we untie the concept of help from the paternalism that leads to dependence on help itself? How can we help ourselves create the well-being that fosters a chain of solidarity, contributing to ensuring that the needs of others are not shaped by our prejudices, but understood through the ability of deep listening?
These are questions that will probably (and fortunately) never find a definitive and long-term valid answer because they depend on the experiences that everyone collects, on the stories we listen to, and on the points of view we are willing to accept, which modify the models we believed to be valid, but which we gradually discover to be limited.
I believe that the concept of “helping” is closely linked to the theme of freedom. Finding oneself in difficulty often means isolating oneself, feeling excluded, and believing not to have enough resources to solve the situation, which often becomes more daunting. The right and freedom to ask for help are the foundations for safeguarding a dignified life. However, many times, the fear of prejudice and stigma that can arise when expressing one’s problems leads people to silence and loneliness. Here, the theme of freedom comes into play. If, relationships of trust and reciprocity are established, we will be able to address the fear of asking for help and transform this fear into a human right that gradually leads to the fulfillment of everyone’s self-determination. Asking for help is a right. Expressing one’s fragility and fears is a right. Only in this way will we have people free to build relationships of cooperation and collaboration, rather than being dependent on the needs that others decide for them.
This means living “shoulder to shoulder”: building relationships of trust through daily listening and time spent together, everywhere in the world.
What is Volunteer for Change
The Volunteer for Change programme is based on two concepts: Sustainable development and international solidarity.
The programme lasts ten months and is an opportunity to learn about the big issues of our time – and to do something about them in practical terms.
The Volunteer for Change programme provides an opportunity for people from the Global North to learn from, and volunteer with, community-driven development programmes in the Global South run by members of Humana People to People. These projects respond to challenges within the spheres of community development, education, sustainable farming, early childhood development and mitigation of the climate crisis.
The fast-paced and action-based Volunteer for Change programme takes ten months:
3 months of training and preparation in Denmark
6 months of assisting a sustainable development programme at a Humana People to people project in the Global South
1 month of reflection, evaluation, and sharing of experiences.
DRH Lindersvold – The Travelling School for Change – welcomes everyone who is interested in working together with us to address humanitarian and development challenges worldwide.
Let’s create a better world together.
Would you like to know more?
Learn more about our programmes
Book a free consultation
Considering volunteering with us or have a lot of questions? We offer a commitment-free one-on-one consultation to help you find out if one of our volunteer-training programmes is something for you.