What does online volunteering mean ?
Online volunteering basically means working for non-profit organizations not with the motive of any kind of monetary benefit but for a social cause. Online volunteering helps individuals to find people with similar interests. Online volunteers also find it easier to develop valuable communication skills which in a way prepare them for their future endeavors. Online volunteering provides a virtual learning opportunity and allows flexibility of time, and with time it has gained certain significance.
The history of online volunteering.
It can be said that the concept of online volunteering dates back to the 1970s, when an American writer named Michael.S S. Heart founded “Project Gutenberg” in 1971 to promote the creation and distribution of e-books. Then, in 1995, a California based non-profit organization called “Impact Online,” which is now known by the name of Volunteer match developed a virtual volunteering project. In 1996 the organization received grants from James Irvine foundation to further research on the project. In 1997 a website was created to list down the non-profit organizations hiring virtual volunteers and by 1999 100s of organizations were listed on the website.
In 1999 an initiative by the name of Netaid was started as a partnership between the United Nations Development Program and the Cisco systems to fight against poverty. Volunteers who were willing to support organizations working for development stepped in and the volunteers belonged to diverse backgrounds but working within the same community for a social cause.
5 platforms to consider for virtual volunteering.
1. United nation volunteering programme
UNV programme provides a unified volunteering platform for the collaboration to take place between online volunteers and non-profit organizations. Online volunteers working under the UNV programme are not expected to sign any kind of contract, nor do they get any financial allowance. They get a maximum of 25 tasks and they are supposed to dedicate 20 hours per week for a maximum of 12 weeks. Volunteers are given feedback for their contributions.
2. Volunteer match
Established in the year 1998, volunteer match works to put technology to good use. It has a user-friendly interface where you can navigate through a wide range of volunteering opportunities available in different sectors including healthcare, education , community building and a lot more. Volunteer match has connected over 18.2 million volunteers to 144.9 K non profit organizations.
3. Ted translate
A global community of volunteers who subtitle TED talks and help the message to disseminate across the globe overcoming the lingual barrier. Over 48,086 translators have initiated 223,964 translations in more than 115 languages for TED talks.
4. Catchafire
It has connected over 54K volunteers to organizations. People willing to volunteer virtually can browse through 24 different cause areas. It outlines the specific skills required for a particular project, making it easier for applicants to apply. It also has projects related to marketing, design, IT, finance, and more.
5. Careervillage.org
It is a platform connecting students to professionals for career related advice. To volunteer for careervillage you simply need to sign up on their website and as a second step you are supposed to set your preferences, which means the kind of questions you might like to answer and you will get notified when someone posts a question related to your preference.
Reasons you might choose to do virtual volunteering.
The practice of virtual volunteering definitely provides you the chance to work for a social cause, other than that it adds significant value to your resume or portfolio. Here are some of the reasons for considering virtual volunteering opportunities in particular if you are focusing on resume building.
- To gain experience – It’s better to have virtual volunteering experience rather than having no prior professional experience. You can fill the gaps in your resume by mentioning about your volunteering role you have done for any particular organization.
- Strengthening your network – Virtual volunteering is about finding people with the same interest as yours, and being a part of a community working for the same cause. The process of virtual volunteering requires interaction & communication which helps you to build a professional network. And not to forget, a strong network definitely helps in career building.
- To develop a skill set – Virtual volunteering experiences can be enriching, as it creates room for learning, performing and exposure. You can work according to your preferred niche which will add to your knowledge and skills. In fact, online volunteering can put you to leadership roles which are considered crucial for personality development.
- To boost mental health – Volunteering has the capability to boost your mental health, it keeps you engaged in the work you admire. Virtual volunteering can boost your productivity which will enhance your mental well- being.
- To prepare for role change – If you are thinking of switching your job role, virtual volunteering can be a great start.
Considering advantages & disadvantages of virtual volunteering.
Advantages :-
- Experience – Virtual volunteering gives you valuable experience which might help you in your personal and professional growth.
- Exposure – Virtual volunteering experiences provide you the chance of getting exposed to various communities, enhancing your knowledge and understanding. It is also a source for building contacts and expanding your social circle.
- Career transition and advancement – Taking the professional aspect into consideration, virtual volunteering is a way to widen your skill set, develop crucial soft skills, resume building and to navigate through diverse job roles.
Disadvantages :-
- Lack of monetary benefits – As virtual volunteering connects you to a non-profit organization, no monetary transaction or compensation takes place in the process. Basically you don’t get paid for the contribution you made to an organization.
- Emotional burden – Some volunteering roles might demand your emotional availability, in particular when you decide to work for any vulnerable section of society which might create emotional baggage.
- Lack of structure – Traditional job and online volunteering programmes might differ in their structural aspect. You may find a lack of proper structure in virtual volunteering programmes.
Activities you might like to indulge yourself into.
- Researching
- Writing and fixing softwares
- Creation of web pages
- Writing press releases, newsletters, articles
- Translation
- Graphic designing
- Educating or mentoring
- Social media monitoring
- Consultation
The concept of micro-volunteering
Online micro- volunteering is a concept that has existed for more than 30 years, which basically means volunteers get their assignments on their smartphones or via PDAs and they are not expected to undergo any screening process or training programme by the non- profit organization nor do they are compel to make any further commitment at the completion of a micro-task. Even if they have already undergone the screening or training held by the organization, they are free to take up micro tasks based on their availability and interests. It helps non profit organizations to expand their volunteer base and reach out to skilled volunteers via providing them short term assignments. Volunteers who expect a greater extent of flexibility can go for online microvolunteering.
Conclusion :
Virtual volunteering offers you the opportunity to select your niche and work accordingly . It helps you develop crucial social skills. It has become easier to contribute to a social cause sitting at home via the internet.
