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‘Give back’to yourself through volunteering By Nina Dragicevic National Volunteer Week is an opportu- nity to celebrate the enormous contribu- tion volunteers give to the world. Volunteers added more than two billion hours to Canada’s work effort in 2017, val- ued at $55.9 billion according to a report from the Conference Board of Canada. While these efforts are altruistic, volun- teering also benefits the volunteers who reap major rewards when they support a good cause. LIFELONG LEARNING Volunteering gave Cherie Wai a career. She started volunteering in high school with World Vision Canada, continuing through- out her university education. Today, Wai is the organization's youth engagement and advo- cacy officer, managing volunteer campus clubs and its national youth council. Without the pressures of being graded in school or working for a boss at a paid job, Wai says volunteering was a way to experiment and grow. “Volunteering has given me the opportu- nity and tools to tum the knowledge | learned in school into practical applications in life” she says. "Having studied global issues and interna tional development, volunteering helped me turn theories into practice, and passion into action. It was a safe space to learn by doing and failing and improving.” From students supplementing — their resumes to newcomers gaining work experi- ence in Canada, volunteering has undeniable professional value. Volunteer roles can dem- onstrate skills and put you ahead of other applicants, according to Indeed.ca. Unlike post- secondary education, volunteering is free. “The possibilities and opportunities are lim- itless/'Wai says, “ranging from practising English with a new refugee, or cooking at a soup kitchen, or advocating political change for girls’ education” HEALTH AND HAPPINESS Some of the most striking benefits of volun- teering are seen in our bodies and minds. According to a series of studies compiled by the mental health non-profit HelpGuide. org, volunteering helps mitigate the effects of stress and anxiety. Volunteers report increased self-esteem, reduced depression and a boost in hormones and brain activity that make us feel happy. Working with animals, in particular, has been shown to improve mood. Volunteering can include physical activity, and finding work outdoors has additional ben- efits, according to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Fresh air and nature can reduce stress and anxiety, and boost mood. Meeting people and building new friend- ships is one of the most popular reasons for pitching in for a cause. The social aspect of volunteering is particularly high-impact - according to the Journal of Alzheimer’ Disease, social engagement is associated with lower risk of dementia. And social isolation is danger- ous: it dramatically increases a person's risk of premature death from any cause, says the US. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. MEANING, PURPOSE AND CHANGE Hobbies are life-enriching and fun, but vol- unteering can change the world. For the past decade, World Vision Canada has engaged its youth volunteers to help its advocacy efforts around child labour, particu- larly in terms of supply chains and the goods we buy in Canada, both domestic and import- ed. From reaching out to MPs and senators to cross-country campaigns, Wai says their team has been ‘a driving force’ in raising the political profie of the issue to the federal level. was a university volunteer when the issue was in a parliamentary study, Wai says. “And now, we'e so close to seeing Bill S-211 — Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act — being voted on and hopefully passed in April” Volunteers see their work have positive, real- world impact, giving meaning and purpose to their lives. “When there’s no transactions or obliga- tions involved, volunteering allows us to not only discover what we want to do but why we want to do certain activities and commit- ments,Wai says. "As we’give back’ to our com- munities, it also gives back to us in a beautiful cycle of generosity and communal purpose.” UWANIK YOU pau VOLURTEERS! of Frendship STRONGER TOGETHER Take you From Sunrise Riders & Staff! We appreciate our Volunteers who help us to empower those with special needs and enrich the lives of all participants. Volunteers are valued members of our team! Sunrise 519-837-0558 @ www.sunrise-therapeutic.ca Ni feds] LUNTEER WEEK Strong Start to reading” B20, song 0 “Making a difference in the life of a child” Thank you to our volunteers for helping give children the gift of reading! Whether you are volunteering in schools, community centres, or at our program deployment cenire, you are giving children a gift that lasts a lifetime. If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities with Strong Start, please scan the QR code or visit our website. Strong Start® Charitable Organization is a Registered Canadian Children’s idy ‘Kepsanyy | ejaquosy oopeyem | EL Charity #825948060RRO001 sili \\ OM ANIMALS AND PLANTS fs) Da sue eo 'e[2]UOIYDOOLETEM