[Howie]

What types of volunteer activities have you done? What did you enjoy about it? What was not so great?
Past or present. NZ or elsewhere. Long term or short term. I'm just looking for some ideas. I think volunteering can be quite rewarding, but it's important to find something that's a good fit.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Before going to Uni, I was a volunteer for a disabled swimming club. It was really good fun. There were some special needs kids, particularly downs syndrome, who could swim fine, but were 'safer' away from busy swimming sessions. There were also a few older people, often doing exercises while recovering from hip/knee operations etc. We basically helped them with whatever exercises their physio had advised them to do. Enjoyed it because people were actually grateful of time you spent with them, plus I love swimming so environment was good too.

Also done lots of other bits and pieces...helped with Beaver Cubs (not as a leader though), organised fun runs and other charity events etc. I enjoy this sort of thing as i'm a bit bossy, can't stop talking :o and love planning or organising things.

[Chiba]

When I was at university I worked one day a week as a debt counsellor for the Citizen's Advice Bureau. I started off training as a regular volunteer adviser, then took some follow on courses. Through the CAB I felt that I was able to make a real difference to some people's lives. The principles behind getting out of debt are not difficult to learn and employ, but passing on that knowledge, and seeing the reactions of people who could finally see a way forward, was amazing. The training was excellent, the camaraderie second to none, and overall it was incredibly rewarding work - far more so than any paid job I've ever had.

One more thing: I have no debts, and an extremely cynical attitude toward consumerism.

[Tia Maria]

In the UK I did volunteer work for Shelter, the homeless charity. I was based at their head office and it was mainly office style work. To be honest I found it all a bit dissatisfying as there can be some 'characters' in charity work who seem to be very counter productive. In particular there were many who seemed to care more about protecting their 'role' in the office than the actual charity work.

I've also done Samaritans, this is almost the complete opposite of above as it is very much 'one on one'. It was much more rewarding but at the same time much more draining. Like Chiba I learnt a lot from doing this as it involves extensive training and met some amazing people.

I have also raised money for various groups and find that works well when you can't put in a long term commitment, but can put in a lot of effort for a short period.

Now, in NZ, if I have any volunteer time it all goes to my sons' school and kindy, which has the real benefit of giving back to the community you are actually living in and it allows you to meet locals. I can do some of this through my business, even though at the moment its very small, and I do the rest by just giving my time.

Hope you find something that suits you! :clap

Cheers

Tia

[jen]

I'm volunteering at a nature reserve once a week planting trees, working in the greenhouse and other things they need done. The staff and the other volunteers are a great bunch of people and as a bonus I'm learning about NZ native plants and getting some exercise.

I'm pretty shy and I wouldn't be at all good at doing volunteer work where I had to work directly with people. I'm ashamed to admit that some years ago I went to a training session to tutor people enrolled in an English as a second language class but I chickened out because I didn't feel confident enough that I could do a good job. I have to stick with helping plants or animals to feel comfortable I guess.

This isn't exactly volunteering, but I've given blood for years and it's so rewarding. I understand that a lot of people aren't eligible for different reasons, but there's such a small percentage of those who could donate who do that it's always needed. Hope that wasn't too off-topic but I guess it's a pet cause of mine :o

Jen

[Caroline and Dave]

I am all for volunteer work and we are already lined up for quite a bit in NZ. In the UK I used to do voluntary work for Great Ormond Street hospital .
In New Zealand Caroline is doing charity work for SPCA ( NZ equivalent to RSPCA in UK) I try to play the keyboard and will be going around OAP homes giving concerts and I will also be working for our local hospice.
So we are going to be having a busy but enjoyable life helping people etc.

All the best

Dave and Caroline

[Myrkk]

I'm a member of a small organisation in the UK and we produce a magazine quarterly. It's entirely staffed by volunteers and I sub-edit the adverts section. Been doing it for around 7-8 years now and it works well in that although there are deadlines I can fit the work around my life. i.e. all I need is a pc and an internet connection. The work can be done when I can fit it in.

[Carey]

Have done alot of conservation work in UK, Australia and New Zealand. Always enjoyed the physical aspect and being outdoors, helping the environment etc, among like minded people (alth' in London it did often attract 'social misfits' who were a challenge to work with!). In OZ and NZ worked in National Parks and WOOFed - Willing Workers On Organic Farms. In both cases we met superb people some of who we are still in touch with 19 yrs later.

Also PTFA- Parents, Teachers, Friends Associations attached to our kids schools and pre-schools. This can be frustrating (and can be clique) when others let you down but great fun at other times.

Set up and ran a support group for sufferers of infertility; incredibly emotional but a feeling of all being in it together, supporting each other, all leading very different lives but bound by the strong desire to become a parent.

[migratory birds]

Cooking dinner at a local soup kitchen for the homeless once monthly, school committees, caring for cats at the animal shelter and am considering hospice care but the one that made the greatest impression on me was this...

Wilderness ranger in the Rockies in nothern New Mexico - backpack ranger the first year then trained as a horsepack ranger the second year - 25 years ago. Still have dreams about the place. Following years considered the Bob Marshall Wilderness in WY or MT (??) and the Boundary Waters in MN but ended up doing indoor work (after a few years of working for slightly better pay on organic farms then into education and medicine). Would love to go back to the wilderness or outdoor work though...

Pluses - Incredible opportunity to stay fit working outdoors - hiking, backpacking, riding, pulling a cross-cut saw - every day, quiet, spiritually fulfilling. Lodging, heat, utilities provided. Overall, great group of people both years but as a more mature adult would find it difficult to live in the same two story cabin (base camp) with 5-7 unrelated others. Looked great on a resume/CV when I applied with the DNR (equiv of CoC in NZ)

Minus's - isolating, 'pay' $8 /day for food stipend but tough to buy a new pair of boots or pants on $40/wk!

[nippa&pippa]

Before going to Uni, I was a volunteer for a disabled swimming club. It was really good fun. There were some special needs kids, particularly downs syndrome, who could swim fine, but were 'safer' away from busy swimming sessions. There were also a few older people, often doing exercises while recovering from hip/knee operations etc. We basically helped them with whatever exercises their physio had advised them to do. Enjoyed it because people were actually grateful of time you spent with them, plus I love swimming so environment was good too.

Also done lots of other bits and pieces...helped with Beaver Cubs (not as a leader though), organised fun runs and other charity events etc. I enjoy this sort of thing as i'm a bit bossy, can't stop talking and love planning or organising things.

SNAP!!
I also was volunteer for a disabled swimming club in sheffield during my uni years, love it and miss it as it is so wonderful to see their face full of joy when they enter the water :nice1
Also I was a guide leader, brownies leader, ranger leader and young leader adviser since I was 14, qualified at 18 :o this is my very first year that I am not in any volunteer work at all since I was 14 cos of emigrated to NZ :yes but hoping to return back to guiding when baby is old enough to leave with my OH :clap
Also done several other youth's activities like expeditions.

[Howie]

Thanks for all the great replies. I'm looking for an opportunity that will help me gain confidence and meet people - oh ya and just feel good about doing something to help out. I find that I don't have great leadership skills unless I'm the "designated" leader. If people are expected just to step up, I'll wait for someone else to step up. If I'm the leader and someone takes over, I'm fine with that. But if I'm the leader - say for example, the coach of a children's sports team, then I will step up and lead. But I'm better off being a sheep. I really like the idea of doing something with my hands, like gardening or tree planting. I get a sense of accomplishment from seeing what my hands have done.
So here are the things I've been considering.
Work with dogs at SPCA - I've done similar work before and found it surprisingly unrewarding - but I think I was just frustrated with the way the organization was run
Coaching hockey (that's ice hockey for you Kiwis)
Engineering mentoring - going into schools and telling kids how great science and engineering is.
Helping new immigrants - especially those who's first language isn't english.
Habitat for humanity - do they have that in NZ? I'm also a little wary of the Christian connection.
Development work in Africa - ever since I went to Africa a few years ago I've had such a strong desire to return and do something good. I'm very aware that there are a lot of organizations that do more harm than good. Or could do more good if they hired locals instead of foreigners who don't really understand the situation. Still, I'd love to find a great organization and do something for 6-24 months. I need to finish my degree first though.

Thanks for the ideas. Keep them coming....