How to Find the Right Volunteer Opportunity 如何选择适合自己的志愿项目

陈晓璐 审订/文军

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Ask yourself the following：

· Would you like to work with adults， children， animals， or remotely from home？

· Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team？

· Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role？

· How much time are you willing to commit？

· What skills can you bring to a volunteer job？

· What causes are important to you？

· Consider your goals and interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing？ The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

Consider several volunteer possibil-ities

Don’t limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper， but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Where to find volunteer opportunities

· Community theaters， museums， and monuments.

· Libraries or senior centers.

· Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs.

· Local animal shelters， rescue organ-izations， or wildlife centers.

· Youth organizations， sports teams， and after-school programs.

· Historical restorations， national parks， and conservation organizations.

· Places of worship such as churches or synagogues.

· Online directories and other resources.

How much time should you volunteer？

Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact， research shows that just two to three hours per week， or about 100 hours a year， can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby， not another chore on your to-do list.

Getting the most out of volunteering

You’re donating your valuable time， so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit：

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills， your goals， and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment， if there’s any training involved， who you will be working with， and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas， choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself， ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing？ The people you’re working with？ Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar？ Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

志愿活動数量繁多，在其中找到一个你喜欢且能胜任的岗位至关重要。与此同时，也要确保你的条件符合该组织的需求。当你在找志愿活动时，问问自己以下几个问题：

·你是否愿意与成年人共事，与儿童、动物相处？是否愿意在家远程工作？

·你更喜欢独自行动还是团队合作？

·你是擅长幕后事务还是台前工作？

·你希望投入多少时间？

·你具备哪些志愿者技能？

·对你来说，哪些目标意义重大？

·思考你的目标和兴趣

如果你先花点时间明确自己的目标和兴趣点，你将获得更丰富、更愉快的志愿经历。想一想你为什么要做志愿者？你喜欢做什么？与你的目标和兴趣相匹配的机会最能让你在实现自我的同时乐在其中。

多考虑几个志愿项目

不要局限于一个组织或一种特定类型的志愿服务。有时志愿项目在介绍文字上描绘得很美好，但实际情况却不尽如人意。可以尝试造访不同的志愿服务组织，去了解它们的真实情况，再看看你是否能与组织里的其他工作成员和志愿者和谐相处。

在哪里寻找志愿项目

·社区剧院、博物馆和纪念馆。

·图书馆或老年中心。

·服务组织，例如狮子会、扶轮社。

·地方动物收容所、救援组织或野生动物中心。

·青少年组织、运动队以及课外活动项目。

·历史遗物修复中心、国家公园和自然保护组织。

·礼拜场所，例如基督教堂或犹太教堂。

·线上指南和其他资源。

投入多少时间参与志愿活动？

要从志愿活动中受益，不一定要让它占据你的全部生活。研究表明，每周仅2到3个小时，或每年100小时左右的志愿时长，会给你和所选事业带来最大益处。投入多少时间从事志愿服务要以你感觉舒适为宜。志愿服务应该让人觉得是一种有趣有益的爱好，而不是待办清单上的又一件苦差事。

充分利用志愿服务

你既然投入了宝贵的时间，享受志愿活动并从中受益是很重要的。为确保找到一个恰当的志愿项目，你应该：

多问问题。应确保志愿活动与你的技能、目标和打算投入的时间相吻合。比如，和志愿协调员交流时，可以问问如何把握志愿时长、是否需要培训、你将和谁一起共事，以及志愿活动中遇到问题时怎么办。

确保自己了解志愿服务组织的期望。你在组织中应该感到如鱼得水，并知道志愿活动需要投入多长时间。考虑从小事做起，免得一开始就过度投入。如果有必要，可以灵活变通，改变自己的关注点。

不要害怕做出改变。不要强迫自己去做不适合的事，或逼迫自己坚持不喜欢的志愿工作。你可以向组织提出变更工作重心，或寻找更合适的另一组织。

慎重选择海外志愿服务。一些海外志愿项目会剥夺当地人急需的就业机会，如果你加入这样的志愿项目，弊则大于利了。一定要寻找信誉良好的志愿服务组织。

享受整个过程。最好的志愿服务对志愿者和志愿服务组织都有利。如果你并不喜欢，问问自己为什么。是因为你正在干的工作吗？还是因为和你一起工作的人？或仅仅是因为对新环境不熟悉而难受？一旦你找出让你不快的原因，你就可以做出抉择了。

（译者单位：北京航空航天大学）