  by Umeshka Ratnaweera
Volunteerism may be identified as free offering of one’s time or
capabilities for worthy purposes, usually in one’s community. Though
this may be fairly known by many Sri Lankans and though in fact,
volunteering is becoming gradually famous especially among the corporate
sector, the doubt remains whether we really put an effort to bring about
a real change by bringing `volunteerism’ into our own communities and
whether we have faith in such volunteer work.
 The spirit of volunteerism can play a major role in the development
of any country by providing services to a wide variety of community
segments in need. For example, tasks such as caring for the poor,
reaching out to the disadvantaged, looking after the ailing, free
tutoring and mentoring can swoop up a society to higher settings from
the current condition.
There are many benefits arising from volunteering such as relaxation,
self-satisfaction and confidence, socialization, community improvement,
acquisition of new skills. In some cases volunteers receive respect and
recognition from society but a true volunteer does not expect any
credit. Genuine volunteers are people who practise the well-known
saying, “let not your left hand know what the right hand gives”.
We ought to give careful consideration to what we can give to our
society and not to what we can get (or rather snatch) from it.
Volunteering can become a significant movement for people of all
ages, whether it is the young or the old, for there is no difference
among the volunteers. What is common among volunteers is that they have
a committed heart. There are certain people who think that volunteers
are people who are idling and have nothing better to do in their lives.
However, it must be understood clearly that volunteers do not
necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.
 There is a tendency among people to volunteer, just for the sake of
doing so without having the least faith in it. You should never doubt
the strength of volunteerism. In reality, a small group of committed
people can bring about wonders to societies in which they live and can
even change the world for the good of all. Some individuals tend to
attach a value for everything and anything according to their money
value.
For instance, the higher the cost is of a medicine given by a
physician, the more the respect and belief in his treatment by the
patient. It’s true that volunteers are not paid but it’s not because
they are worthless, but because they are priceless. Understand,
appreciate, value and have faith in the spirit of volunteerism and take
the lead in putting yourself in action. If done with a faithful,
committed heart, I assure you that there will be no regrets. |
