What is volunteering?

In the simplest terms it is offering ones time and skills to help others and the society as a whole without looking for personal profits. It may be intellectual or physical work performed short- or long-term. One can be a volunteer in many ways and in the most diverse fields. Each one of us has plenty to offer and there are many in need of that help.

What motivates to become a volunteer?

People decide to become volunteers for many different reasons that may be classified under two general categories of motives.

• For reasons of ideology, ethical and/or religious values which make one sensitive to the problems and necessities of others wanting to do something to help, to change the world for the better.
• For personal reasons, for the necessity to feel useful, to live through new experiences, to meet and work with people of different backgrounds and cultures, for personal growth.

The volunteer action signifies:

We don't expect to list all the opportunities to do volunteer work, because there are an infinite number of possibilities, it all depends on your creativity and how much you are willing to do.

GIVE (time, recourses, skills, ect.) and also RECEIVE (satisfaction, knowledge, experience).
There are various forms of action and work fields where one may become a volunteer.

• You can read stories or simply talk to kids or the elderly.
• Teach others how to read, play the guitar, play soccer, surf the web, etc.
• Give company and take care of the elderly or sick persons
• Help in the organization of a special event (i.e. fund raising activity, concerts, fairs, etc.).
• You can travel to different parts in the country and take part in a great variety of projects.
• You can use your professional experience to support an organization.

We don't expect to list all the opportunities to do volunteer work, because there are an infinite number of possibilities, it all depends on your creativity and how much you are willing to do.

You may become a volunteer for a variety of reasons:

• To be and feel useful
• To obtain the personal satisfaction of doing something good and doing it right
• To obtain work experience
• To break the routine and do something completely different
• To learn in the broadest sense
• To give something back to society
• To meet others with interests like yours
• For the recognition you can receive for being a volunteer
• To feel proud of yourself
• To be able to help
• To share a skill or knowledge
• For the fun of it
• To make a difference

Fields of action:

Volunteer work may be performed in practically all fields and environments. It’s up to you to choose one those best suits you so that your time will be best used. Following are the different fields in which you may take action and gain professional experience by working with Esperanza Peru

Social.- Working with people and groups excluded form the society, fighting poverty, helping people with disabilities and special needs, fighting for the rights of various social groups: women, young people, immigrants, prisoners, ethnic groups etc.

Cultural.- Promotion of creativity, diffusion of cultural works, promoting local arts and crafts as well as helping with the search for and upholding of the cultural identity.
Education.- Alphabetization, child and adult education, fighting for equal access to education, education in the rural communities.

Health.- Health, family planning and personal hygiene education, improving sanitation, development of healthy environments.

Community development.- working on projects aimed at social and economic development of specific communities to better their living conditions.

Free time.- developing after school activities for children and teenagers aimed at proper mental and emotional growth, broadening their horizons, helping with homework.