Build hope from a distance. Be a virtual volunteer!
At Discovery SVS we have a lot of types of volunteering that you can practice remotely including virtual volunteering. You can choose an activity that resonates with your hobbies or that you are passionate about. You can see all the virtual volunteering activities here.
What does it mean to be a virtual volunteer? Virtual volunteering allows you to offer your time and services away from the physical site of an organization, project, or campaign. As a virtual volunteer, you can work over the internet via computer, tablet, or phone to help support a cause that is important to you whilst you give as much or as little time as you want!
But don’t believe us! Listen to the experience of Arjun and Gemma, volunteers who have been part of the Discovery family for a long time and who have embraced virtual volunteering.
Arjun and Gemma are both students, with different experiences and at different times in their lives, but they both chose to give a few hours of their lives to help the world around them. And they love it! Even though Discovery has a varied list of online volunteer activities, Arjun and Gemma have their favorite activities that they have chosen by trying several types of activities.
Arjun and Gemma have each participated in different projects, each choosing activities that suit their interests and passions, but they both agree that one thing: volunteering, especially virtual for today’s times, is very important. Why? It is a way to get people involved, educated, and builds both happiness and self-confidence by knowing that you are doing something. Gemma is very passionate about science projects and her favorite project is the one where you have the chance to look at the skies (by staring at your screen) and check out the amazing Northern Lights. Arjun enjoys participating in a number of virtual volunteering opportunities.
Gemma explains how virtual volunteering is a great opportunity because you can participate in projects from home and be in control of how many hours you want or can give. This is a flexibility that virtual volunteering gives you. She tells how this type of volunteering can give the opportunity to those who would like to volunteer, but for various reasons such as going out or interacting face to face with people, they cannot really volunteer.
Gemma says: ‘With virtual volunteering, you are not constrained by those things people might be worried about. With virtual volunteering, you are able to do it as you want so it is completely your time. So if you decide- I want to give an hour of my time, and then you feel like you can’t anymore, you don’t have the energy for it, I haven’t got the mindset for this now, that’s okay ‘.
Another great thing about virtual volunteering is that you can use the time you use to do it as your Discovery volunteering hours. This means that you will be able to have a clear record of what you have contributed, access benefits such as getting a reference off Discovery if you log 50 hours or more with us or to apply for your bronze, silver, or gold HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Record) Award which will look fab on your CV.
Together with Arjun and Gemma, we encourage you to go through our list of activities and virtual volunteer projects. Choose your favorite projects and join the Discovery SVS team. It is very simple! We are also active on social networks and you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @dicoverysvs.