Volunteering and compassion: see how your help can change the world — check out the tasks!
In a world where wars and conflicts have become everyday occurrences, where violence and destruction dominate the news, volunteering remains one of the few bright threads that connect us to true values. This article explores how humanism, compassion, and kindness can help us navigate through life's challenges.
Humanism is a philosophy that places the individual at the center of the universe. It is a belief in the potential of every person and a respect for their rights and freedoms. Humanism encourages us to step away from our daily concerns and focus on those who need help. The year 2022 has forever changed Europe: thousands of people are fleeing war and poverty, hoping to find a better future. Volunteers from organisations like «Doctors Without Borders» and «Refugee Action» provide them with medical care, food, and shelter. These volunteers see migrants not just as statistics or threats but as fellow human beings deserving of care and support.
Heart and soul
Humanity is our innate drive towards goodness. It is what compels us to empathize, help, and care for others. Volunteering, driven by humanity, is often impulsive and sincere. We simply cannot remain indifferent. Many people begin to help after being touched by a particular story or event. Often, people start helping others after experiencing personal hardship. At first, they help one person, then another, and soon they realize they can assist more systematically and on a larger scale. By helping others, we distract ourselves from personal tragedy and feel a sense of significance in the world, which can gradually bring us back to life.
Research shows that the feeling that others appreciate our efforts and that we are doing something purposeful and meaningful helps increase life satisfaction, brings a sense of happiness, and reduces symptoms of depression.
Humanity inspires the creation of local projects, such as rescuing animals from war zones or establishing aid centres for migrants in small communities. These initiatives often provide help more effectively and with a personalized approach than global projects.
Love in action
Compassion is love in action. It is not just empathy, but concrete efforts to alleviate the suffering of others. Compassion is when we not only sympathize but do everything possible to help.
Volunteering out of compassion is love expressed through action. For instance, after the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria in 2023, volunteers from around the world, including those from the «Red Cross» and «Save the Children», immediately arrived at the disaster site to assist the victims. They built temporary shelters, helped clear debris, distributed food and water, and provided medical aid. This was an expression of compassion—actions aimed at alleviating the suffering of others.
How can this help you overcome a personal crisis?
Humanism, compassion, and humanity not only help others but also benefit the volunteers themselves. They provide meaning and purpose, strengthen personal connections, and foster the development of skills and emotional intelligence.
Volunteers involved in humanitarian missions often find new goals and meanings in life, helping them cope with personal challenges and stress.
Participation in volunteer projects creates a supportive community that helps overcome personal crises and fosters a sense of belonging and significance.
Interaction with various social groups, such as migrants or people with disabilities, enhances empathy and understanding, potentially transforming one's views on life and society.
Humanism provides a philosophical foundation, humanity offers emotional drive, and compassion leads to concrete actions. Together, they create the motivation to help others and overcome life’s difficulties, including your own.
Volunteering is a way to bring out the best in us, the qualities that may have become dusty and forgotten amid life's challenges. It is our way of telling the world, «I am here, and I am ready to help». And perhaps this is the most important and powerful way to make the world a better place.