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An excellent set of posts at (courtesy Dr Verma)<br><div class="ecxgmail_quote">
<a href="http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part-one/" target="_blank">http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part-one/</a><br>
, <a href="http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part%C2%A0two/" target="_blank">http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part%C2%A0two/</a><br>
and <a href="http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part%C2%A0three/" target="_blank">http://saigonolpc.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/how-to-be-a-good-volunteer-part%C2%A0three/</a><br>
<br>
PART I<br>
<br>
CHOOSE YOUR ROLE. Look at all possible projects and ask yourself two<br>
questions: What would I really want to do and what kind of skills do I<br>
have? You could bring increased value by helping using your skill set,<br>
however you can always try something new if you feel strongly about a<br>
particular project. There are many projects and we are sure there will<br>
be at least one that speaks to your heart.<br>
<br>
SET REALISTIC GOALS by not trying to change the world overnight or<br>
help everyone! It is hard for one person to save everyone, sorry, but<br>
you are not a superhero. Instead, begin with one person, one animal,<br>
or one group that you can help. Then make one achievable goal and work<br>
toward it. Always remember, there are a lot of us and our collective<br>
volunteer power is strong. All of your efforts are multiplied by the<br>
efforts of others.<br>
<br>
HAVE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS about your living conditions and how easy<br>
daily tasks should be. Remember, you are not going on vacation: you<br>
are doing a project! There will be resistance and obstacles. Sure, you<br>
will meet new people and have fun, but it will require hard work in<br>
new conditions. Sometimes you will have to share a dorm room with<br>
other volunteers; you may encounter cockroaches; have a language<br>
barrier or learn that your instructions are not followed etc… It is<br>
not the end of the world. You will be there with people who have the<br>
same values. Later in life, perhaps, you’ll remember this time as the<br>
best experience, when you were both driven and audacious.<br>
<br>
SWITCH OR NOT TO SWITCH, that’s the question when you start to waiver<br>
on your project. Do not be hasty. If you do not like your first<br>
project, and you feel less skilled think of it as a learning<br>
experience. If you feel overwhelmed or have a fear of failing, why not<br>
overcome it? Prove to yourself that you are more than what you<br>
thought you were capable of and keep at it. If you still do not like<br>
it or do not feel confident, then switch projects. Maybe you will be<br>
exceptionally good at something else.<br>
<br>
LEARN. Even if you are an expert, there is always a lesson to be<br>
learned. Life is a two-way street: we teach and we learn. You will<br>
need to know how to get the assignment done; especially in a new<br>
country, things may be very different. This could require learning new<br>
skills or using different materials. If you need more training to get<br>
ready, ask for the manuals, a demonstration and/or assistance. If you<br>
know what to do and how to do it well, it will be easier to help<br>
others.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
PART II<br>
<br>
MAKE AN EFFORT! Showing up to do your project is only the first step.<br>
It is important to take your volunteer work seriously. You are<br>
providing help to people and places that are in real need. Your value<br>
to the project is parallel to the effort you put in. Sometimes, it is<br>
hard to give 100% to your project, but please try. Specifically,<br>
always come on time to your project and be appropriately dressed no<br>
matter how much partying occurred the night before or what the<br>
thermometer reads that morning. Constantly remind yourself why you<br>
signed up to volunteer.<br>
<br>
If you push yourself, you will find your own limits, talents, and<br>
skills you never knew about. Often people realize their potential is<br>
more than what they ever estimated. As you extend yourself, the<br>
project will succeed because you gave it 100%. You will amaze yourself<br>
and those around you.<br>
<br>
POSITIVE ATTITUDE is imperative. Think about those around you who are<br>
in need or in trouble. You are there to help them, not bring negative<br>
energy. Please, stay upbeat, think of any difficulties as a learning<br>
experience, and try to resolve them diplomatically. Always have a<br>
positive attitude and demonstrate to others that you are there<br>
volunteering by choice.<br>
<br>
BE RESPECTFUL Always remember to demonstrate respect for other people<br>
and other cultures, no matter how much culture shock you are going<br>
through. Keep in mind that your way of thinking or living is not the<br>
only one or even the right one. What is normal to you may not be<br>
normal to others. If you seriously disagree about something, speak to<br>
a project leader first. He or she will consult with you, explain the<br>
differences and suggest ways of how to behave in the future. Consider<br>
yourself and your actions as an ambassador of your own culture. You<br>
want to present yourself well and be respected by others, and this is<br>
not achievable if you act snobby or superior. Going to another country<br>
means following their rules, as you are a guest, and they are the<br>
hosts.<br>
<br>
BE FLEXIBLE AND OPEN-MINDED as there maybe a shift in your schedule or<br>
a change in your role or responsibilities. It is life. Nothing is<br>
permanent in life except for change.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
PART III<br>
<br>
DO NOT GIVE UP! You will all have moments, when you doubt your<br>
decision to volunteer. You will have a serious urge to stop and go<br>
back to your normal life and to your familiar routine. Sometimes you<br>
will feel bored, sometimes exhausted, and sometimes mad at the people<br>
you work with who are not cooperating. You may even feel angry with<br>
Cheb for getting you involved in being a volunteer. Talk to others and<br>
share your problems because you are not alone. Everyone is going<br>
through the same phases, but remember this stage is temporary, and it<br>
will pass. Always look forward and remember again why you chose to be<br>
there. When you finish the project, you will look back and see the<br>
progress and be amazed with the results.<br>
<br>
BE KIND to others. This could mean your peer volunteers, the project<br>
manager, or a local person. You never know what other people are going<br>
through as they may be very vulnerable, sad, or dealing with difficult<br>
issues. We all need support. If you see someone going through a hard<br>
time, try to make him or her smile, offer help or just share your<br>
experience. Sometimes all we need are kind words, and also remember<br>
people’s privacy. If they do not want to share, please do not force<br>
the conversation. If they do engage you, do your best to understand<br>
what other people are going through, even if it’s something you’ve<br>
never dealt with yourself. You will get so much credit for being kind<br>
to someone. Treat others as you would want to be treated, and you will<br>
begin to make friends on this adventure as well.<br>
<br>
BE SAFE. If you break your leg or get robbed, it will not make your<br>
experience efficient or enjoyable. Be prepared in advance and read<br>
about cultural norms and safety rules in the area of your project<br>
beforehand. Being prepared also means taking the necessary<br>
precautions: getting appropriate insurance policies and all needed<br>
immunizations, backing up your computer files, pictures, etc. Do not<br>
take unnecessary risks. We want you to be safe, so that you can come<br>
back and tell about your experiences to others who want to go and<br>
continue what you started.<br>
<br>
MEASURING YOUR PROGRESS. Many of you will be looking to measure<br>
success of your project participation. Did you really make a<br>
difference? The answer is yes. Whether you built a house for someone,<br>
created a fund-raising campaign, or made a child smile, you did it –<br>
you made a change, you made someone happier and improved the world.<br>
Additionally, in the process of volunteering, we are sure you improved<br>
yourself by simply making an effort to be a better human.<br>
<br>
<br>
cheers,<br>
Sameer<br>
--<br>
Dr. Sameer Verma, Ph.D.<br>
Associate Professor, Information Systems<br>
Director, Campus Business Solutions<br>
San Francisco State University<br>
<a href="http://verma.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://verma.sfsu.edu/</a><br>
<a href="http://opensource.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://opensource.sfsu.edu/</a><br>
<a href="http://cbs.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://cbs.sfsu.edu/</a><br>
<a href="http://is.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://is.sfsu.edu/</a><br>
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