Feel like doing some VOLUNTEER work?
So you’re back on track, the year is starting to tick slowly by, you’ve broken the heath regime, nearly spent your January salary already and are wondering what will make a real difference to your life this year? What about becoming a Volunteer and getting amongst the people… What about volunteering your skills, energy, time and talent? What about giving back and making a real differen…
ce to the community?
Today we present you two programs that we know about – the first is for individuals called Twenty30, they are looking for working professionals, who want to contribute 6-8 hours a month to making a difference in SA, through being part of a meaningful and structured year-long program.
The second one is VOLUNTEER WEEK which is a corporate-focused week in March that challenges employees to get their company involved.
See the details below:
Twenty30 aims to grow the concept of Skills Volunteerism in SA, bridging cultural divides to solve first order socio-economic challenges. To this end, Twenty30 facilitates ways in which business professionals can volunteer meaningfully by using their own skills in institutions requiring them.
Background Information
Twenty30 has run a successful project in 9 schools around Soweto, Eldorado Park, and the Inner City in 2005. Prior to that, Twenty30 also ran pilot studies in the HIV/AIDS sector. All projects utilise skilled ‘volunteer consultants’ who carried out necessary skilled interventions, under management’s guidance.
Interventions focused on improving school management, strategy and leadership and included workshops and training sessions for educators and school governing bodies.
Some examples included:
– Strategic Planning Sessions
– Computer Training
– Team Building Workshops
– Budgeting Training
– Proposal Writing Sessions
– Facilitation of Learner Outings
– Counselling Sessions
Volunteers participate in a year-long program, which entails 5 conferences/ checkpoint days where teams are able to report back, hear how each other are performing, and network around relevant issues identified. Participants are also exposed to guest speakers and extra material and resources as a part of this process.
Additionally participation on the program utilises volunteers’ professional skills, knowledge and experience and plays towards the strengths that each individual brings to their team and ultimately to the school within which they volunteer.
Commitments and Requirements
We welcome a range of volunteer consultants to apply for this program. General guidelines include the following, about the kind of volunteers we look for:
– Having a tertiary education and a number of years’ work experience
– A passion and commitment to South Africa’s future and willingness to make it a better place
– Dedication to the program, which runs over one year (timelines below)
– Ability to work in a team, take initiative, and turn talk into action
– Interest in new experiences, building cultural bridges and getting to know an array of like-minded passionate South Africans
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER WEEK 6 – 12 MARCH
Employee Volunteer Week is the only national, annual celebration of employee volunteering in South Africa.
Thousands of employees give their time and talents by volunteering to help non profit organisations and communities. Employee Volunteer Week is the time to reflect on achievements and to take action. The campaign provides companies and their employees with opportunities to get involved in volunteering.
We are particularly encouraging teams of employees to participate by selecting a charity and completing a project. The Get Involved section of this website will show you what you can do.
What is Employee Volunteering?
Whether in work time or in their own time, thousands of employees donate their time and skills to good causes. Many employee volunteers are supported by their companies. The type of support offered by companies can include giving limited time off work, allowing access to company resources or matching volunteer hours with cash grants.
Employee volunteers get involved in all kinds of different projects that address important issues in our society. Whether you have an hour to give or an entire day, you can still make a big difference. Examples of projects employees have successfully completed can be found in the Case Studies section of this website.
What happens during Employee Volunteer Week?
Employees go out into communities to volunteer their time. Many of them will work as a team, collaborating with colleagues to contribute their skills to a community in need. Projects are extremely varied and can include anything from running training for unemployed youth, to entertaining elderly residents of a care home to clearing wasteland to provide a play area for children.
The aim of the Employee Volunteer Week campaign is real action, with volunteers doing what they do best – helping others. We encourage employees to identify their favourite charity and plan what they can do to assist them during this week.
