The Power of Online Volunteerism and How You Can Be A Part Of It
Designed by Magnific
Volunteerism may be formal or informal, short-term or long-term, and local or international. Contrary to popular belief, it is not exclusive to service to others, but it also includes mutual aid and self-help, civic participation, and advocacy and campaigning.
Volunteer rates increased in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, but especially peaked in the mid-2000s. In California, more than 62 million Americans volunteered for a civic organization in 2013, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The majority of these volunteers were made up of women, and more than two million people were aged between 35 and 54. The report revealed that the main organizations participated in by the volunteers were religious organizations; children’s educational, sports, or recreational groups; and social and community service groups.
The United Nations estimates that 2.1 billion people volunteer monthly and that over 10,000 individuals engage in online volunteering. Remote volunteering, also called virtual volunteering, digital volunteering, or online volunteering, is a type of volunteering where volunteers contribute their time without being physically present in a specific location. It is made possible through online platforms, email communication, and virtual meetings.
Online volunteering crosses beyond geography
Gone are the days when an individual has to travel to far-flung communities and work on the ground. Online volunteering has made it possible for everyone to volunteer wherever they are, even from the comfort of their homes. As said by Kobchat Vichieansri, a Thai civil servant and UN Online Volunteer, “Even though the UNDP collaboration was fully online, the experience felt just as meaningful and impactful as working onsite. It reinforced my belief that value comes from purpose and contribution, regardless of location.”
The volunteer workforce in social and community groups and various organizations today is not constrained by traditional committees like fundraising and communication. Organizations have expanded to include design, content creation, research, and external communications committees. This expansion in committees makes it possible for everyone to contribute online. Take, for example, design and content creation: a volunteer can simply create an output from where they are using Canva, Photoshop, or Adobe and submit it through various online platforms.
A wide and diverse volunteer base
People from different ages and backgrounds are able to contribute to something bigger than themselves through the internet. Having a diverse workforce offers various perspectives to a volunteer team, increases creativity, efficient brainstorming, and a bigger room for new ideas.
It allows for more positive and global impact
The surge of technological advancements has made anything possible. From your own homes, you can now make a global impact by partaking in online volunteer opportunities with just your computer or phone. “Our laptops and tablets can be like magic wands—transforming ideas into action and making our world more livable and hopeful,” says Kobchat Vichieansri.
Volunteer Now
If you are interested in being a volunteer, the following is a list of online and in-person volunteer opportunities.
Online Volunteer
The UN volunteer assignment supports peace, development, and humanitarian initiatives for the United Nations.
Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Opportunities are available for online volunteers such as transcription, archiving of American Gardens, and gathering knowledge for the Encyclopedia of Life translation project.
Translation without Borders is a global community of language volunteers offering language services to humanitarian and development organizations worldwide.
In-person Volunteer
Orange County offers ongoing volunteer opportunities, short-term and holiday volunteer opportunities, volunteer opportunities for teens and young adults, and professional-level volunteer opportunities.
Over 8,569 volunteer opportunities are available on-site in California.
L.A. Works provides a calendar of volunteer opportunities in LA County.
Volunteering is a way to contribute to the community and the world. If you want to know more about making a difference, check out Ca Care Association’s programs and events.
