Have you or do you participate in volunteer work? Do you belong to any particular organizations? If so, what do you do?

I've been doing some research on international volunteer organizations and how to participate. My reason behind it is twofold -- 1) to volunteer towards a worthy cause; and 2) to travel to an unfamiliar country and immerse myself in its culture. After spending the better part of the day learning about all kinds of very worthy organizations, it got me thinking if anyone here did volunteer work.

I'll be honest, I haven't volunteered my services in quite sometime and am feeling a bit guilty about it. It's time for me to change that.

I take it you've considered the Peace Corps?

I've donated some design work in addition to monetary donations for a few charitable concerns of my clients.

Not really, but I work for a non-profit organization so that's almost like volunteer work.

i worked with kids in the job corps today.

Amen.

Actually Tania, I am looking at joining the Peace Corps in the next couple of years. I also know of some other international volunteer organizations. PM me if you want some more info.

As per my thread, I work non-profit too. Sometimes I wish I was a volunteer rather than an employee.

Every now and again(maybe once every six months, to be clear) I buy a homeless dude some lunch. but that's the extent of it. I wish I did more.

I was huge into building mountain bike trails several years back ( www.scaab.bikeaddict.com ). We started a trail at a local lake (under the close guidance of the CCC), and for ten blistering years, built quite a network of trails.

As the years wore on, I wore out, tired of recruiting, and tired of going back and trimming trails that weren't getting ridden enough.

I've earned my place in the volunteer Hall Of Fame, but, like you, I'm ready to donate my efforts towards something new.

Maybe I'll volunteer to be part of a Volunteer Escort Service.

fp

I feel like i work for a worthy cause as well

I have considered doing something more worthwhile, but I am basically a rotten, selfish person.

me too.

That's great, Joe! Unfortunately, the Peace Corps requires too long of a commitment for me and I baaaarely qualify. I'm looking at what some call a "working vacation". You commit yourself for x-amount of weeks, work during the day (for some organizations, they only require a minimum of 2 hours/day) and the rest of the day is yours to do what you please. Right now, I'm looking at these:

Global Volunteers
United Planet
Amizade

As resources, I'm also using these sites:
International Volunteer Programs Association
Volunteer Abroad

Btw, I'm considering going to this place on my next vacation -- La Sabranenque

You can join one of several restoration projects in Provence, France or another restoration project in Altamura, Italy. Not only do you get to stay in a beautiful region but you help restore ancient, medieval sites.

To learn a bit more, check out this article -- it's a couple of years old, but information, nonetheless -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3081188

Save the country! Volunteer to snatch those crazy Mexicans!

Dude, you could set up one for catching those wily Canucks!

Finding spare time has always been my major hindrance in joining a volunteer organization of any sort. Hopefully I can find something in the next year.

KPH

When I dropped out in 1996 I was basically unemployed for about three and a half years.

For two of those years, however, I did voluntary work for a audio magazine for the blind. I'd done some work for an FM radio station just basically recording vox pops in the street, so initially I just did some outside recording (interviews, some music) for the magazine and then I started to write articles and after about a year I became Producer and basically worked at it 9-5 except of course I didn't get paid.

It was a really good time. I loved just sitting in the studio trying stuff out, splicing tape, mixing tracks etc. I really wanted to make the programmes as professional as possible so rather than just have volunteers read, I had proper actors come in and do readings so I got to direct them too. I have to say I rather liked bossing people about through thick glass.

I'd probably still be doing it if the Council funding hadn't been pulled. After that I had to go off and get a proper job in a bank and before you knew it 'that' was my career. Boooo!

I'll probably do some sort of voluntary work when I go back to Uni. I really hate littering so I think I might join the 'Dirty Weekenders'!

playing bass?

For local stuff, I'm thinking of joining a literacy program at my local library. I'd also like to get involved with Habitat for Humanity.

Btw, didja know that if you live in the US, all your travel expenses would be tax-deductible if you volunteer? Pretty cool, I think.

Not my point. My point was that at non-profits you are not paid well, so it is almost like volunteering.

you misinterpret my post. I was rolling my job at my employer, not yours.

ah...my bad.

fyi, I had an Irish friend volunteer through the Irish group of this organization: http://www.sciint.org/
He was in India for 6 weeks, and helped rebuild some school buildings and work on their water system. I believe he went to 3 different villages during that time.

As for me, I keep telling myself that I need to volunteer at the Humane Society, because I love animals and think it's a noble organization. I just haven't actually done it yet!

Beware Habitat; I did some work with them a few years ago. I got no problem with religous folk per se; Let's just say that their are some cultish elements to some members of Habitat. And some other weird shit as well that I'll just leave alone b/c I really don't need a defamation lawsuit right now.

i'm a mentor to an urban high school student. we meet for a couple hours on saturdays and work on psat's and summer school apps. its through an org called minds matter. it's a good way to go.

oh and she's going to andover for 2 mos. this summer. i'm so proud!

this one sounds really cool. may have to look into this.

That's actually one of the things that I always reccomend for people to do who want to get involved in their communities';

Big ups, Katie, and congrats to your men-tee.