Why volunteering for a nonprofit organization?

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” (Dalai Lama XIV)

Most of the people who are considered examples to society were those who helped others. Mother Tereza, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi are some examples. Even though we probably won’t become famous for helping others, isn’t it something we should do anyway? All of us should volunteer for a nonprofit organization.

Let's focus on three main topics, they are:

• Learn how the nonprofit organizations help us to realize the concept of social inclusion;
• Understand how it affects both our personal and professional development; and
• Take a look at how volunteering can help our local communities.

So, how does a nonprofit organization promote social inclusion? We should work for nonprofit organization to help us to understand and live the concept of social inclusion.

According to the United States Census Bureau,

“More than one in five children in the United States (around 16 million) lived in poverty in 2010.”

The chart below shows us the difference between what a person should eat daily to keep a balance diet with the essential nutrients (left image below) and what a person living in poverty actually eats (right image below), around just 15% of the required to a normal balance diet. It is still happening nowadays, unfortunately.

So, work for these organizations give us the opportunity to live the concept of social inclusion and increase our sensibility to making decisions about helping everyone belong.

The Sociology’s book, “You May Ask Yourself”, written by D. Conley, defines the concept of social inclusion as:

“Social inclusion is both an outcome and a process of improving the terms on which people take part in society.”

Defining the concept of social inclusion, we might wonder: how does it affects us in the job market? All of us should volunteer to help us to find better paying jobs.

Employers look for people who actively help others in their communities.

These organizations’ principles support our personal and professional development to care about others. According to the article “Accept them as they are”, wrote by Rick Hanson, one example is become more flexible to accept other people differences. When we are open to listen people, we learn new interesting things. Also, we build a more eclectic network of friends from different backgrounds. Then, when we demonstrate more understanding and tolerance towards others, we are making a positive contribution towards the collective consciousness.

After learning how the nonprofit organizations’ principles help to develop us, how can we give back the support to the community? We should volunteer to make our communities better places to live. Our engagement and commitment will build solidarity communities.

"Doctors Without Borders", for example, is a nonprofit organization that saves lives by providing medical aid to people who can’t otherwise access health care. Situations like in armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters, and other crisis situations. They are in more than 30 countries around the world.

These organizations support us to put our kindness effort and ideas into practice to develop communities!

Therefore, remembering the three topics discussed above, they are: (1) learn how nonprofit organizations help us to the understanding the concept of social inclusion; then, (2) finding out our personal and professional development; and lastly, (3) taking a look at the importance to offer kindness ideas and effort to the communities.

All of us should volunteer for a nonprofit organization.

Remember, Dalai Lama XIV said, “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” Those people who are examples to society acted with kindness. So, work for a nonprofit organization is an opportunity to make the positive difference helping people in need and to develop ourselves.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12, New Living Translation.)

References:

• “Diet Quality Nutrition.” (2012, May 27). United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-choices-health/diet-quality-nutrition/.
• Hanson, Rick. (2014, Oct. 13). “Accept them as they are.” PsychologyToday.com. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from www.www.psychologytoday.com/article/20141/accept-them-they-are/.
• Macartney, Suzzane. (2011, Nov. 16). "Child Poverty in the United States 2010." Census.gov. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from www.census.gov/2011pubs/acsbr10-05/.
• New Living Translation, John 15:12.

Thank you for read up. I appreciate it. Have a good day!

Artur Aguiar de Albuquerque.