Community Youth in Action
Volunteer Projects
Why Volunteer with CYA?
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Provides you with a sense of purpose
You can find your purpose through volunteering and becoming part of something greater than yourself. For instance, if you’re retired, unexpectedly unemployed, or have lost a loved one, helping others can give your life new meaning and keep you mentally stimulated.
- Provides a sense of community
Volunteering can help you feel connected to those you are helping in the community. This experience may make you want to get involved with other aspects of your community, such as local politics or advocating for programs you believe are important.
- Helps you meet new friends
Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and strengthen connections with friends, family, or coworkers. As a volunteer, you’ll typically interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which allows you to learn other perspectives.
- Increases your social skills
Volunteering allows you to talk to new people and sharpen your social skills. By spending a lot of time working with others and using social skills like active listening and relationship management, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your future personal and business relationships.
- Improves self-esteem
Volunteering may boost your self-esteem and self-confidence. Doing something worthwhile and valuable for your community gives you a sense of accomplishment that may help you feel more fulfilled about your life and future goals.
- Teaches you valuable skills
The training and hands-on experience you gain while volunteering can help you learn new skills and build upon ones you already have. For example, if you advocate and raise awareness or funding for a cause that interests you, you’ll gain valuable communication, public speaking, marketing, and other hard and soft skills. You can then put these skills on your resume to show employers how you build relationships outside work and any personal interests that can set you apart from other candidates.
- Provides job prospects
Along with acquiring valuable skills and experience, you may also meet people while volunteering who can become your mentors or be a part of your professional social network. If you choose to pursue a career in your volunteering field, the connections you make also help increase your job prospects.
- Brings fun into your life
Many people use volunteering to pursue their hobbies while making a difference. For example, if you’re interested in the outdoors, you might volunteer at your community garden or help at a children’s summer camp. Volunteering for organizations or causes also may give you a renewed sense of creativity and motivation that carries over into your personal and professional life.
- Can help you be happier
It often feels good to contribute to projects and organizations that mean something to you. These good feelings can help lessen your life’s stress, anger, or anxiety. Volunteering may give you the tools you need to be happy and well-rounded. Building bonds and connections with people with whom you volunteer may also counteract social isolation. Volunteer opportunities also involve physical labor to keep you active and reduce stress.
- Gets you out of your comfort zone
Through volunteer work, you may overcome the personal challenges of leaving your comfort zone and doing something new with people you may not know. You may be faced with various problems to solve as a volunteer that require you to exercise critical thinking skills that aid your personal development.