The Importance of Responcible and ethical Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact. People usually take up the task with a good heart and pure intentions but it is important to remember that volunteering, like any other thing, should be done the right way to have the right result.

RESPONSIBLE and ethical Volunteering

With the growing popularity of volunteering, it is essential to understand the importance of responsible (ethical or sustainable) volunteering. Put simply this means doing good instead of harm.
Volunteers want to support the community they are working for with quality work, contributing to long-lasting change, and helping support the economy instead of taking potential workplaces from the locals.
There are a lot of resources about what responsible volunteering consists of (check out the Responsible Volunteering resources from Take 10 Volunteer) but today we want to talk about why it is important to do it.

Why is it important to volunteer responsibly?

Responsible volunteering benefits all parties involved – the volunteers get relevant experience and personal development while the community gets the necessary support.

Doing good

Nowadays it is very common for organizations to take advantage of volunteers and cause more harm than good. Sending volunteers to orphanages where they form bonds with children and then leave, allowing volunteers to do work which they are not qualified to conduct, letting them do simple tasks which could be done by locals who would get paid – a few examples of how volunteering can turn into something negative.
Ethical volunteering approaches make sure that volunteers are matched to projects according to their skills and competences and they are contributing to a positive long-lasting change.

Decolonization

Colonization was a process that seized during the early 1900s. However, the sad reality is that the effects of this phenomenon are still very much present.
Stereotypes about the countries in Africa are circulating and considered true without even put to discussion. The reality is often different from what we initially believe and it is our duty as citizens of the modern world to put stereotyping and generalization in the past.

Sustainable projects

Volunteering achieves the desired effect when the projects ensure a change which will stay even after volunteers are gone.
Getting the job done for the people instead of working together with them is pointless as no actual change is accomplished. When volunteers are gone so is the effect of their hard work.
One the other hand, when volunteers collaborate with the community they ensure that the change will last. Furthermore, they know that what they are doing is what the community actually needs. Communication and collaboration are key.

Having good intentions and wanting to help is a great start when volunteering. By making sure that it is done the responsible way volunteers can rest easy that they have done something which will have a long-term effect.