VOLUNTEERING AND VOLUNTEERISM (Service to Mankind)

Amb steve Mbugua, Dir & Founder Makinika Afrika International

VOLUNTEERING AND VOLUNTEERISM

HUMANITY/ SERVICE TO MANKIND

BY: Amb Steve Mbugua Director & Founder, Makinika Afrika Intl

Volunteering is one of the most satisfying ways you can make a real difference to people living

in the toughest circumstances. People join Volunteering bodies like Makinika Afrika Intl, St

John Ambulance, Red Cross etc. because they want to give something back to the society only to

find out that they get much in return. We work on long-term, sustainable solutions. And

volunteers are how we do it. Nothing compares with the satisfaction of bringing a massive

change into the lives of people. If compassion was the motivating factor behind all of our

decisions, would our world not be a completely different place? You cannot hope to build a

better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own

improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular

duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful. We call this humanity –service

to mankind

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. Makinika

Afrika International; an initiative working in Africa, invites you to join the great movement of

volunteers transforming this continent and making it shine. Because, when Africa, the cradle of

mankind shines, humanity shines! We have networks with hundreds of grassroots organizations

that are direly yearning for extra hands – skills, resources and time – to put a smile on the needy.

This gives you the truest satisfaction of serving: lighting fires that will not warm you, but those

who need the warmth most.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering

are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you find

friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Volunteering can also help protect your mental and physical health. I started this initiative

several years ago motivated by me life as a street boy in Nakuru Kenya and peddling drugs and

lacking somebody to hold my hand and show me the direction. Today, my heart mourns every

time I see a young man who lacks good parenthood or lacking focus in life. This initiative brings

together passionate volunteers who reach out to such needy young people through


encouragement and mentorship. I later came to realize that the greatest good you can do for

another is not just share your riches, but reveal to him his own. The moral test of a society is how

that society treats those who are in the dawn of life -- the children; those who are in the twilight

of life -- the elderly; and those who are in the shadow of life -- the sick, the needy, and the

handicapped. The gentleman who spread his hand to impact my life is Mr. Elijah Maina Mwangi

and today he is a happy man seeing what I am today. In about the same degree as you are

helpful, you will be happy.

One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid

volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to

connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks

can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And

volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you

choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your

network, and boost your social skills.

Volunteering helps you make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a

shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are

new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your

support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and

fun and fulfilling activities.

Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new

people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since

you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have

momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/how-to-make-friends.htm


Volunteering as a family

While it might be a challenge to coordinate everyone’s schedules, volunteering as a family has

many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community,

you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help

other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know

organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering increases self-confidence. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to

your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and

the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a

volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about

yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have

retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and purpose in their lives by helping

others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your

own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

Volunteering combats depression. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation.

Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid

support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re

going through challenging times. Working with pets and other animals has also been

shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. The physical activity involved in

certain forms of volunteering—such as environmental projects in parks, nature reserves,

or beaches—can be good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older

adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than

those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants.

Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/the-health-benefits-of-pets.htm


People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from

volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions

ranging from hearing and vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all

show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people

choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. There are many projects where you

can help. Writing and graphic design lends itself to working at home, and in today's

digital age many organizations might also need help with email and websites.

If you think home-based volunteering might be right for you, contact organizations you

like and ask about the possibilities. Some volunteer organizations may require you to

attend an initial training or periodical meetings. You also want to make sure that you are

getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should

you have questions.

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of

interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers,

volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as

teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and

organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed

these skills in a volunteer position first.

Volunteering can provide career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term

commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can

volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For

example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home.

Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that

could be of benefit to your career.


Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many

volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an

experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art

historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the

greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for

your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public

speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

When it comes to volunteering, passion and positivity are the only requirements

While learning new skills can be beneficial to many, it’s not a requirement for a fulfilling

volunteer experience. Bear in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer

effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive

attitude.

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work

you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day

routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed

creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance,

if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help

plant a community work, schools visits, or help out at a children's camp or home.

Consider your goals and interests when volunteering

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to

identify your goals and interests. Start by thinking about why you want to volunteer. Also think

about what you would enjoy doing. Volunteer opportunities that match both your goals and your

interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling for you.


Tips for getting started volunteering

First, ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do.

For example, do I want…

…to make it better around where I live

…to meet people who are different from me

…to try something new

…to do something with my spare time

…to see a different way of life and new places

…to have a go at the type of work I might want to do as a full-time job

…to do more with my interests and hobbies

…to do something I’m good at

The best way to volunteer is to match your personality and interests. Having answers to these

questions will help you narrow down your search.

How to find the right volunteer opportunity

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a volunteer position that

you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your

commitment matches the organization’s needs. The following questions can help you narrow

your options:

Would you like to work with adults, children, or animals, or remotely from home?

Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?

How much time are you willing to commit?

How much responsibility are you ready to take on?

What skills can you bring a volunteer job?

What causes are important to you?


Consider several volunteer possibilities

In your search for the right volunteer opportunity, don’t limit yourself to just one organization or

one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite

different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click

with other staff and volunteers. The more satisfaction you have as a volunteer, the better your

contributions and the more likely you’ll continue.

Where do I find volunteer opportunities?

Community theaters, museums, and monuments

Libraries or senior centers

Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs

Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers

Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs

Historical restorations, national parks, and conservation organizations

Places of worship such as churches or synagogues

Online databases such as those contained in Resources section below

How much time should you volunteer?

Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just

two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both

you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels

comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore

on your to-do list.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your

volunteering. It’s important to make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit and to

communicate with the people you’re working with in the volunteer organization.


Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your

goals, and the time you want to spend. If you have any questions, be sure to speak up.

Sample questions to your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if

there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have

questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. Before starting, make sure you are comfortable

with the organization, know what is expected, and understand the time commitment.

Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself

some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Speak up if your experience isn’t what you expected.

Don’t force yourself into a bad fit. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or

consider looking for another match.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause

more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers.

Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. Most importantly, make sure you’re having fun! The best volunteer

experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying

yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working

with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and familiar?

Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

Dream of something that touches a heart no matter how small it is and you will change the

world in that person. Whatever you can do, or dream you can... begin it. Boldness has genius,

power, and magic in it. Don’t mind about the reward because its not monetary. Volunteers

don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless. And in case they

are paid, Volunteers are paid in six figures... S-M-I-L-E-S. Don’t mind about where to start,

wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him. You don’t need to have the whole

year or day to volunteer. Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the

heart.

By the end of the day, what you will see is tears of joy. No one is more cherished in this

world than someone who lightens the burden of another.


Am writing this from my 13 years of volunteer experience having served with St John

Ambulance and Kenya Red cross rising to the rank of Divisional Superintendent and

Training Manager as a senior volunteer.

Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help,

the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim. Most of the people I

have helped moreso in the slum are strangers to me and I never get a chance to meet them

again. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world"...and, if

you can't be that change, then either get out of the way of the person who wants to be that

change or support the individual with your financial resources.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things

to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world

with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” Barrack Obama

It is not a big deal or rocket science to impact a life, it is the little things we do unto others

that make us great. Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to

have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to

serve...You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

When I started Makinika Afrika on 1st January 2012 at Huruma ground Eldoret, I started

creating time to visit and spend time with young people and a great percentage admit that

they lacked a person who would listen and understand them. Today I have visited more than

10 institutions and hundreds of young people have greatly been motivated and inspired by the

sessions and programs.

As Makinika Afrika Good Samaritan volunteers, We are not going to dwell on those things

that divide us. We are going to rejoice in those things that keep us together to make this a

better country- to reach down and back to touch every young person in need! We believe that

the greatest poverty is lack of humanity amongst us. Our slogan is “your happiness is our

happiness” and this is because compassion is our passion. The greatest poverty that can


afflict the human spirit is the loss of a generous heart. You will know that success has slipped

away when your passion for helping others grows cold.

I commission you to Go out and do something for somebody. Go out and give something to

somebody. It will take you away from yourself and make you happy. No act of kindness, no

matter how small, is ever wasted.

As Makinika Afrika, We pursue to be counted as humanity embracers. When the story of

these times gets written, we want it to say that we did all we could, and it was more than

anyone could have imagined.

What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good. We call it service to a just

course, Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction

than any other venture of life.

For Humanity to take place, you have to give yourself. To the wrongs that need resistance,

To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.

Humanity is the essence of living, Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as

possible, and truly it seems that we are never so alive as when we concern ourselves with

other people. Be of service. Whether you make yourself available to a friend or co-worker, or

you make time every month to do volunteer work, there is nothing that harvests more of a

feeling of empowerment than being of service to someone in need.

We all have a responsibility to volunteer somewhere and I'm lucky that I get the education

and get taken to places to see what's out there and see what's happening and to then be a part

of it in hopefully an impactful way. St John Ambuance, Moi University, Kenya Christian

Students Fellowship and Kenya Redcross gave me the chance to explore and learn the art of

humanity.

Remember, It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global

family, to support its weaker members and to preserve and tend to the environment in which

we all live.


I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater

sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family,

or nation but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human

survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and

through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.

"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the

aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in

vain." Emily Dickinson

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received

- only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.

VOLUNTEERING AND VOLUNTEERISM (Service to Mankind)

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