Give of your time to become a volunteer

There are many reasons for becoming a volunteer. They can be personal or professional. 

There are many advantages to getting involved in your community or a cause. In particular, volunteering enables us to  

• ease integration into a new living environment; 
• get to know each other better; 
• create a social network; 
• become a positive leader in the community; 
• improve job prospects; 
• develop new knowledge and skills; 
• participate in the wellbeing of people in their living environment; 
• have fun and create satisfaction by contributing to the advancement of projects in your community. 

To improve your chances of making the choices that are right for you, here are some things to consider.   

You've chosen to get involved as a volunteer. There are many questions to ask. What cause will you be giving your time to? What would you like to do as a volunteer? 

To start you thinking about your expectations, here are some suggested questions: 

• Is there one area you enjoy more than others? 
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? 
• Would you like to take part in activities taking place in an organization or at home? 
• What would you like to gain from your volunteer work? 
• What are your motivations? 
• What are your strengths? 

You've identified the area that meets your expectations. The next step is to determine how much time you have available to work as a volunteer.  

To help you take stock of your availability, here are some suggested questions: 

• How many hours a week do you have to spend on volunteering? Being a volunteer does not require full-time availability.  
• Would you like to make a short- or long-term commitment? 
• Would you be willing to travel long distances to get to the organization? 
• Would you be willing to drive as part of your volunteer work?  

You know your expectations and your availability. The next step is to find out what the needs of organizations in your neighborhood, municipality or region are. The needs of these organizations are enormous. 

By contacting different resources, you'll be able to target organizations that need volunteers and that take your situation into account. 

Communicating with resources will help you identify the needs in your living environment. With them, you can target the organizations that best meet your expectations. 

Here are some groups of organizations or key players to help you identify the need for volunteers:  

• Réseau de l'action bénévole du Québec, the Nous joindre page ; 
• Jebénévole.ca ; 
• 211, information on community services ; 
• Fédération de l'action bénévole du Québec, the Nous joindre page . 

Some municipalities have resources that are aware of community needs. Consult your municipality's website for more information. 

You've now targeted organizations looking for volunteers. Does what you have to offer meet their needs? If so, contact these organizations. You'll begin an experience that will enrich your life.