Volunteering – Change in view

I used to believe that we had a great formula to volunteering – ie make it easy for yourself to do it and then you will stick to it. I’m no longer convinced of this.

My guidelines for volunteering have always been:

Make the time manageable – 1-2 hours a week max.
Let your travel time be minimal – volunteer either close to your work or home
And engage in something you can walk away from without leaving a hole in the organisation

I’m not so convinced after my experience over the past 3 years.

I decided 3 years ago that I needed to engage in some volunteering that does not use my experience at We are Durban (and that the organisations are not part of our network)– so it could not be a social sector type volunteering. So I got involved in Netball. Not a sport I have played since primary school, but to be honest I can see how netball can be so good for this country in helping young people see their value as human beings, and become powerful agents for change within their own environments. I started volunteering as a KZN Super league men’s team manager. My role consists of a lot of admin, making payments, managing (stinky, sweaty, disgusting) kit, and then engaging with the team and KZN officials on match days. This then led to me managing the KZN ladies’ team – the Kingdom Stars at the Telkom Netball League. Locations are not close to home – sometimes I travel 45 minutes to an hour to matches. Practices are not close to home (30 minutes). And with TNL now I have been away from work or family for three and a half weeks. Convenience and time are definitely in excess of what I would deem manageable! I had to learn what I needed to do on the job- because there were no guidelines – even though there are deadlines! I often spend my own money to sort out issues, not because I have a lot, but it had to be done. And yet I will sign up again. Why? Because I am making a difference.

This has confounded me hugely, but needs to be talked about. Before you think I am either single or retired, I think I need to let you know I have three kids, very active kids to whom I am chauffer and cook. They play sport every afternoon and all weekend. So saying “Yes” to volunteering is a big ask. BUT volunteering has been so good for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and despite the millions of reasons not to do it, I will continue. I will continue because to the people on my team, I get to set them up for success, for the individuals I get to engage with, I get to learn from and share some of my story with. I love coaching (development, leadership). I love young people. I love seeing the potential in people and helping them discover it and grow in it. I love the freedom that volunteering offers you – yes, you have a role to fulfil, but no one is paying you to do it – so the how you do it, is made up by you, the why of your doing it can be guided by you, your personality and gifting. In the end you get to grow develop and impact the world in a greater way by giving of your time.

I really have been grappling with what my new guidelines for volunteering would be. I have been telling a few people about my journey and my conclusion, I guess is:

Volunteer in a way that releases your own potential, that develops your own gift set, that allows you to grow into a better version of yourself.
Be responsible for your commitment – please do not volunteer if you are not going to commit – it won’t be good for you or the organisation
Make sure you communicate with ALL relevant people as much as you can – you are going to mess up, you are likely to let people down, but the quicker you own it – the quicker it can be rectified.
Make sure you are indispensable, but at the same time developing those around you, so when you can’t, they can.

You might be surprised at the right placement for you for your volunteering – I certainly was. You will know it is the right space when you are willing to literally create time to do it. So the challenge is what do you love to do? What sectors can possibly benefit from you? Now go find an organisation that needs you and I dare you to release your own potential in the world.

Written by Linda Morrison