In a world where everyone is self-centered, going out of one's way to help makes the other feel like they are using you or taking advantage of you and the fact is that I won't blame anyone who decides to go down that path because no one likes being used.
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Most of the time, we are lost in what we can receive from a place but never in what we can offer back. I remember when our light had issues and my neighbor started using his generator to pump water for the compound. As much as I was grateful like everyone else, I couldn't stay still, I ended up talking to every other person to at least help fuel his Generator. That was our way of giving back.
This post is a response to the Hive Learners Weekly Prompt and today, we will be talking about "Volunteering and Community work" in the aspect of Giving Back and I will be answering the questions with my life.
When people hear volunteering and community work, the first thing that comes to their mind is NGOs and whatnot. Even though they are correct, the fact is that it is not limited to just that. Volunteering could be performing some unpaid work for the community or to help a course. The main emphasis of every volunteering work is that the expectation of receiving payment is out of the mind and out in the wind. As I said earlier, volunteering doesn't have to e when you work at UNICEF or any big institution but the slightest going out of your way to help another person is termed volunteering because you weren't forced to.
I love giving back, most times because I don't being indebted, other times because I just love the feeling, and other times, it is because I don't like staying ideal. I so much love to volunteer to the extent that I almost volunteered when a call came out in Lagos State during the COVID crisis. I didn't because of the threat my mum gave me "If you step out of the house, don't bother coming back" and she meant it.
Last Time I Volunteered..
The last time I volunteered to lend a helping hand was two Sundays ago. Well, I know everyone does this, but I just changed churches, and one thing about me is that I can't sit when hands are needed. So I saw that the ushering arm needed more hands because the church had over 100 members but just four ushers. I had to walk up to the head and tell him I was interested in helping out, and I started.
Lessons Learnt ...
Everything you do in life has affected your life one way or another, either you know it or not, you don't always come out the same way.
Through my years in school, I served at an NGO for campus growth as the Zonal Secretary for NIFES Ilorin Zone and it was an edifying stage where I learned some leadership skills. Volunteering has placed me in rooms with influential people and I have caught one or two wisdoms. I met someone also while volunteering and no I didn't volunteer because of the person so rest lol. I learned how to plan from the ground up and completing it, I learned how to fundraise. My head was too stubborn to take this because I felt embarrassed and saw it as begging for money. I think I had this mindset because I don't like insults.
One other thing I gained is experience. Nothing beats when you are trained to pick up something along the way and to do anything professionally, you need experience. My country can ask for a minimum age of 27 and ask for 10 years of experience 😅. So, more for the future, I plan on fully joining a club such as Rotary or LEO. Although I have made my intentions known with the LEO club I am yet to start participating fully in their activities. Hopefully, in the coming months, I will and one day, I will also go out with a team for community service.
So guys, here you have it. This and more are my ways of giving back to the community and country. I would love to hear your thoughts.
