To spare your time and spirit, chooses to act in recognition of a need, with an attitude of social responsibility and without concern for monetary or material profit – Welcome to participate in volunteer service!
The daily life of teenagers is busy : busy in studying for examinations; busy in extracurricular activities; busy in internet and games. Why this teenager only advocates to volunteering only which is without any substantial return? Try to find out the answer from Tse Siu Chung.
A step forward? I used to go with my parent to do volunteer work while I was a little boy. I remember that my first volunteer work was visiting eldrely. Those elderly were very kind, I appreciated their sincerit to me as if I were their own son. I had a decent and warm feeling at that time, I found that volunteering influenced my whole life. Indeed, it is a really meaningful work. Since then, I started my life as a volunteer.
Another advantage gained from volunteer service When I was in middle school, my role in volunteering changed. I was appointed as a recreation team leader for my class. I had organized for my classmates a senior home visit. As a result, they were all enthusiastically looking forward to have another visit. Hence, I took the leadership role, being responsible for the planning various activities.
With my past experience, I continued to help others, and through participation in volunteer work, I learnt lots of skills that I could hardly find in books. Besides, I knew many people and that flourished my social life. I am glad that I am a volunteer in the team.
Teenager involvement in volunteer service Depends on individual’s time and ability, select the most appropriate volunteer service.
Services that are available for teenagers include the following :
Visiting service;
Laboring service, e.g. weeding grass, cleaning beach;
Coaching;
Organizing recreation activities;
Tutoring;
Flag selling;
Volunteering in school : e.g. prefect, class monitor, student society, etc.;
Dixon Tse
Mr C K Cho, or we call him Cho Sir, is a barrister and a professional expert in fraud prevention and risk management. He works as a consultant and lecturer in many large companies, and has substantial experience in risk management, internal control, fraud, corruption investigation, human right, personal data privacy, risk capital and capital management. Currently, Cho Sir holds the position as a consultant for the Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation. He also lectures on fraud prevention and risk management for the practitioners in Social Welfare and the management team of volunteers, explaining the risk management and ordinances related to volunteer management.
Start with devotion
Although Cho Sir is very busy, he devotes himself to volunteer work. This is because he holds a belief of contributing society and having passion in life. Cho Sir starts working as a volunteer through his friend’s introduction, inviting him to enroll and promote the Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation. Since Cho Sir was rewarded a scholarship from a volunteer organisation when he was young, he thought that was a good opportunity for him to contribute to the society. Moreover, he had been persecuted by the problem of mental illness once before, and make him understand the patient’s feeling. Since he agreed with the mission of Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation, he gladly took the job as a consultant. Hopefully, his professional knowledge can help other people. Therefore, this was the first step of Cho Sir to start his volunteer work.
Respecting the fact that fraud and risk management are influential to social welfare practitioners but are always neglected, Cho Sir initiated his professional knowledge to the staff and volunteer management of the organisations, mainly focusing on the risk management and ordinances related to managing volunteers and holding activities. Afterwards, Cho Sir picked up the interest as a volunteer lecturer.
“With Heart” is the most important
How can professional people spare time for doing volunteer work when they are so busy? Cho Sir thinks time management is crucial, but “with heart” is the most important reason. There is always enough time when you are willing to do and when you hold a determined belief to help others.
A World filled with Love
Cho Sir believes that our society is full of love. He devotes his professional skills to contribute to the society, hoping to arouse people’s response. His actions exactly illustrate his belief. It is hoped that all of us can share our specialties and hence to build a harmonious society together.
Volunteer work for professionals to join
They may participate in the organisations which are established by other professionals, such as Medecins Sans Frontiers, the Government Flying Service, the Professional Team of the Agency for Volunteer Service or becoming a volunteer lecturer. Professionals in various fields can all devote their specialties to the society.
Mr Cho Chi Kong
Cho Sir is giving a lecture to the staff of Social Welfare Organisation
Cho Sir has a close cooperation with the Chairman of Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation, Meg Lam. They have been working together to carry out many large events.
In 1975, Cho Sir and his colleagues of the ICAC arrested the former Chief Police Superintendent, Peter Godber.
Margaret always poses herself as a fortunate and joyful housewife.
Margaret has a husband who loves and cares about her so much, and two sons who are sharp and energetic. Her happiness however comes not only from her family, but also from her participation in volunteer work which has been giving her even greater joyfulness. Other than making more friends than before, Margaret also found that after becoming a volunteer, she has got more interesting topics to be shared with her family members.
“Instead of enjoying my life, I use most of my spare time to do volunteer work. I believe it is worthwhile because volunteer work is an enjoyment for me. ” Before becoming a volunteer, Margaret always voluntarily offered help to the others, but they were quite limited to her relatives and friends. Until one day, she unexpectedly noticed an advertisement on volunteer recruitment in a newspaper. Without any consideration, she applied for such a post. Since then, she has been a volunteer for over seven years.
Broadened Horizon
The Families Volunteer Scheme was the second service which Margaret participated. Margaret enjoyed the Scheme very much. Through the participation, she got acquaintance with a group of good friends. At the same time, she also got a deeper insight in today’s community. As the Scheme required Margaret to coordinate with her team members, school teachers and parents, and also all participating members to share ideas with the others, Margaret gained a lot in her organizing power and her confidence. Through the increased communications, Margaret and the Scheme members have become very good friends, and they even went to karaoke when they had free time.
The Family Momentum
While Margaret has never requested her family members to join the volunteer services, her husband is always supporting her. Sometimes when Margaret was busy with her engagement in the various volunteer services, her husband would drive her to the places of volunteer services. He sometimes even acted as volunteer photographer. Influenced by his mother’s devotedness in volunteer work, one of her sons also participated in volunteer services while studying abroad. Once, he sent back a certificate of volunteer award to Margaret for sharing his happiness.
While most housewives are busy with their housework, they can also participate in voluntary services to broaden the scope of their social lives. Margaret’s devotedness in voluntary services is a good example for us to consider playing a part in volunteer services!
Women participation in volunteer service Women can help in organizations, such as: Hospital volunteer service, Elderly Home volunteer service, Hong Kong China Women Association, American Women Association, etc.
To provide visit service, tutoring service, e.g. class of handicraft or cooking, leading a team, centre duty volunteer worker, domestic helper service, homework assistance service, family hot line service, etc.
Margaret coordinate families to
participate in volunteer service.
Retiree golden age- Ko Po Chun
Being a volunteer is not that great
"I am not that great to be a volunteer. " Ko Po Chun said with ordinary tone, but her volunteering vitality has changed a lot of people who around her. Prior retiring, .Ko Po Chun is a teacher; she devoted to volunteer service after she retired. Her sincere attitude gives warm caring to service target, furthermore, she influences her friends and daughter to join volunteering, and let all of them feel the joyful of helping people.
Once a teacher, a lifetime teacher
The first time acquainted in volunteer service was joining a promotion of school family activity, organized by the Parents -Teacher Association of her daughter’s school, .After retirement, Ko Po wishes that she could make use of her educational expertise in serving the community, consequently, she joined the 〝Hopeful School〞 implemented by Agency for Volunteer Service, educated students in the mountainous regions of Mainland China. .
Clap your hands to boost morale
Po Chun participated in the〝Golden Age〞for retiree. She was impressed by a nearly paralyzed senior who clapped his hand to show appreciation to the volunteer performance. At that moment, Po Chun realized that volunteer service is meaningful and valuable to the vulnerable people. .
Retiree participation in volunteer service
Community service for experienced retiree and semi-retiree: Visit and perform services, Professional tutor service or Homework assistance service, Family mental assistance and Promotion on health, etc. Experienced office retiree can give to non profit organizations in electrical works line input data and reception etc
A busy working people participate in volunteering
People in a hectic city
Antonia participated in volunteer work for 12 years, during the past years she has won numerous awards, recognizing her enthusiastic participation. She is now a volunteer staff of Agency for Volunteer Service, as a instructor, in charge of training volunteers, managing volunteer groups and designing volunteer development plans.
Antonia works in an accounting firm. Her job is demanding that she often works until 9 in the evening, or even midnight during the peak season. Antonia has just get married and have her own family, how could she spare times to continue the volunteer work apart from her busy work and family life?
Volunteering with family and friends
Antonia is enthusiastic in volunteer work; she sacrifices most of the time with her family members and friends, which she feels a bit distressed. Finally, she had an ideal solution to solve the problem.
Antonia explained: “I usually make use of my travel time to read through the training materials or to draft the service proposals, but I still need at least half a day for the volunteer service.” I am glad that I have successfully persuaded my family and friends to join the volunteer service with me. I could communicate with them and let them understand that I have dedicated my time in volunteer service. To my astonishment, working with them in volunteer service give me a great satisfaction, because it means that they recognized my work.”
Gaining much
Antonia believes that the benefits gained from volunteering are more than expected. She acquainted many new friends and extend her knowledge. Most importantly is volunteering is a challenging work that gives her a sense of novelty and satisfaction, so it is worth for me to give up most of my leisure time. Antonia thinks that helping others is self-blessing.
Busy as you are, when are you going to accept this challenge?
Business people participation in Volunteer service
Although business people do not have much leisure time, they could participate in various social services, including single or short-term service, such as: visitation service, recreational services, provide training service with professional expertise, etc.
