THE BENEFITS OF BEING A LITERACY
VOLUNTEER
In addition to the many benefits that volunteers bring to
organizations, research has found that donating one's time also benefits the
individual in a number of ways.
Health benefits - A study funded by the Ontario Ministry
of Health in 1991 found that volunteering can improve self-esteem, reduce blood
pressure, combat social isolation, reduce the impact of stress and augment the
body's immune system.
Learning benefits - The National Survey of Giving,
Volunteering and Participating found that 76% of respondents reported an
improvement in interpersonal skills. An additional 66% said that they had
improved their communication skills, and 64% said they had increased their
knowledge about issues relating to health, women, the environment and politics.
Job benefits - More than one million Canadians obtained
employment through their volunteer experience.
Forty-six percent of youth between the ages of 15 and 24
reported that volunteering had improved their job-related skills. Another 12%
reported that volunteering had helped them obtain employment, and over 50% of
unemployed volunteers believed that their volunteer experiences would improve
their chances of finding work. One-third of employed volunteers believed that
volunteering gave them new skills that could be applied to the workplace.
Benefits for Literacy Volunteers
Helping Others - A Priceless Benefit!
Of all the
benefits that literacy volunteers gain, nothing is more valued than the reward
of helping others.
The single most important reason that volunteers become involved
in literacy programs is to help others help themselves.
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To help (the students) become more independent at work and
daily living is exciting and personally rewarding for me. I have learned to
celebrate even the small accomplishments of life thanks to my students.
A.M., Windsor |
New Learning, New Skills
Sixty-one percent of
literacy volunteers recently reported that obtaining new skills was important
to them. In the same survey, 68% of literacy volunteers indicated that they had
acquired new skills in the course of volunteering!
Some of the specific skills that they can develop while
volunteering include:
- Teaching
- Board development
- Financial management
- Computer applications
- Administrative skills
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Assessment skills.
Sources:
Graff, L. Volunteer for the Health of
it. Etobicoke: Volunteer Ontario. 1991.
Greenberg, Liane. The Benefits of Volunteering - Fact Sheet # 8.
Toronto: Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. January 2000.
Health Canada. Volunteering and Self-Enhancement -
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/voluntarysector/2_2.html
Informa Market Research Co. The Economic Value of Volunteers
in Community Literacy Agencies in Ontario. Barrie: Community Literacy of
Ontario. April 1998. The Benefits of Volunteering - More Voices from Ontario's
Literacy Volunteers
The Benefits of Volunteering -
More Voices from Ontario's Literacy Volunteers
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To see the look on a person's face when they achieve their
goals, or get the right answer to a difficult question gives me great
satisfaction.
R., Arthur |
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As a volunteer member of the literacy council board, my
skills as a business person have been useful to our group in various ways from
personnel issues to promotional efforts.
S.K., Hanover |
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The rewards associated with volunteer service are, as the
name implies, not of a monetary nature. Therefore, one must assume that any
reward must come internally from the individual tutor. I find this to be true.
It is very refreshing to see the expressions when a persons, previously unable
to read, suddenly realizes that he/she now has the ability to read and write.
This expression of wonder when the written word becomes understandable is well
worth any inconvenience caused by volunteering. However, in my case, this is
not the only reward. I recently obtained my B.A. from the University of
Waterloo and, since I am retired, the Literacy program allows me to put some of
this education to a practical use. Indeed, the rewards of volunteering are many
but come only from the heart.
G.T., Dryden
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For the amount of time required of me, (which is minimal)
this is an enjoyable and rewarding way to serve the community.
K. R., Haileybury |
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Watching a learner celebrate a breakthrough is an
extremely good feeling. Being a part of that celebration and knowing that you
helped is amazing. It keeps me coming back.
B.A., London |
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Tutoring is a two way street. I help people with my
knowledge of English and they enrich my life with their eagerness and desire to
learn. They impart their knowledge to me from another culture and we have a
mutual understanding and become friends.
R.,
Don Mills |
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