Volunteering is a vocation

The modern world is oversaturated with stressful situations, connected not only with natural phenomena, but also with the peculiarities of society's life. The trouble is an international concept, not limited to one people. It comes unexpectedly, and it is unlikely that there is a house wherever it would look. We can not always cope with it on our own or alone. And then volunteerism comes to the rescue. This movement is widespread all over the world, it has no nationality, is not divided by class, has no political coloring, does not take into account preferences in the religion. For altruistic reasons, part of the population of our planet rushes to those who are in trouble. It is difficult to talk about when volunteering arose. The ability to do anything without relying on reward is inherent in nature. Volunteering is a soul rush in the first place, and then consciously organized activities around the world. This is charity and patronage. Ordinary people from anywhere on the planet are sent to another of its points - the disaster area - for the purpose of volunteering and providing free of charge, at the expense of their free time, to those who are in dire need of it.

The main thing is to choose the form of assistance that you are capable of. This can be coordination activities in charitable events (actions, concerts, festivals), technical (take-bring, help visit a doctor, purchase medicines and devices), documenting (translations into foreign languages, medical documentation, visa documents) or any other help People or animals, necessary at one time or another. Especially widespread is the scope of activities such as social volunteering - helping the older generation (pensioners, veterans of labor and combat operations), children's institutions, children suffering from various diseases.

Volunteering Abroad

The adult population of the world includes volunteers ranging from 20% or more. For example, in Europe - 22.5%, in the US - 27%, and in Austria to 36%. Activities abroad - an acquaintance with the culture, life of the country, the way of life of the local population, the study of their language (understanding of living language and fluent speech).

At the end of the last century (1998 data), 109 million people participated in volunteer activities around the world. In Germany, about 40% of the population went through a volunteer school. The US allocates about $ 6 billion a year from the federal budget to a volunteer activity through a specialized agency . At least once in life, 19% of the French adult population took part in volunteer actions. Patronage activities are also carried out in the region of Israel, in a region where the study of the Middle East and North Africa is available.

Australia is a special country in terms of volunteering. Free volunteer programs are the hallmark of this country, where you can make your efforts not only to save from disasters, but also as an agriculturist. Anyone can apply for a visa (for 3 months, 1 year, more than 1 year) for a trip to Australia to work on a voluntary basis, study and participate in free volunteer projects for the protection of nature (rescue of endangered species of animals, marine life, for example Turtles), promoting ecotourism.

Volunteering is primarily a help during natural disasters, man-made disasters in megacities and industries, environmental disasters as consequences of human life on our planet. This is help all over the world in healthcare, business, teaching in schools, building community centers and homes, animal hospitals, farm and garden work. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called volunteering the ultimate expression of the main purpose of the United Nations. Promotion of cross-border volunteer activity is also the responsibility of the European Union (EU) parliament. According to 2012, 5% of the EU's GDP is generated in the activities of 100 million Europeans volunteers.

Volunteering in Russia

Russian society did not stand aside in the matter of volunteer activity. Altruistic motifs, perhaps, are naturally inherent in the nature of the Russian people. In fact, serfdom is volunteering, that is, gratuitous work for food and accommodation. In the XIX century, urban guardianship was established for the poor, under which volunteers worked. In the Soviet period, volunteerism is the mastering of virgin land, the construction of BAM, harvesting, work on subbotniks.

The Russian parliament was concerned about the fate of volunteers. To reward amateurs in doing good deeds, it was decided to draft an appropriate bill to give volunteers a legal status and raise their social status in order to legitimize volunteer activity, and equate it with alternative military service. According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, while working as a hospital attendant, builder, postman, etc., it will be possible to pass the ACS - an alternative civilian service.

The sphere of volunteer activity will be replenished with budgetary funds with sparing taxation, and volunteers and activists will get advantages of different nature (when passing the USE, when entering educational institutions, referents when choosing a place of work, social benefits).

People who meet the human needs of others, solving global integration and environmental problems, are healthier than all other earthlings. English scientists have provided statistics on mortality among volunteers, which is lower than usual by 20%. Help and spontaneous kindness not only prolong life, but also strengthen mental health. Public figure and writer Henry David Thoreau (USA) called human kindness the only garment that is not subject to dilapidation. Wearing such clothes is a great merit and honor.