And don't forget its not too late to enter Project Inspire! Read our previous post here to find out more.
-After moving to Singapore from Canada, I was seeking opportunities to get involved in the community and make an impact. Expatgiving provided a great platform to learn and connect with other local organizations and opportunities. With interests in innovation and social enterprises, I decided to apply to volunteer with Project Inspire.
How long have you been volunteering for and how many hours a week do you give?
-After an interview with the Singapore Committee for UN Women, I've been volunteering as a Country Ambassador since February 2015. There is flexibility for volunteers to drive their activities, so time commitment varies. So far, it's ranged about 1-3 hours per week.
What is you job role and main responsibilities? Can you talk us through a typical day at Project Inspire?
-The main objective of the role is to promote Project Inspire, grow our online community, drive project entries and provide support for the competition. Activities may include: training on launch materials, creating content for social media and articles about Project Inspire, attending local community events, networking and outreach to local applicants and groups, organizing satellite events. We also engage in ongoing discussions with the Project Inspire team and ambassadors around the world, sharing ideas and supporting each other.
How does this volunteering experience benefit you? What skills have you gained from volunteering with project inspire?
I have enjoyed connecting with change makers in Singapore and around the world. Their passion is energizing and it's inspiring to hear about their experiences and how they're empowering others and catalysing socio-economic development. They have developed innovative solutions, from cleaner cook stoves and alternative energy sources to vocational training and jobs for disadvantaged youth to micro-enterprises run by women entrepreneurs. In addition to learning about international development and social enterprises, it's also been a great opportunity for me to further develop my social media and marketing communication skills.
What advice would you give to others looking to volunteer for the first time?
Volunteering is a great way to meet and connect with others, learn new things and develop skills. Check out the diverse opportunities available through Expatgiving, and other groups or start your own initiative. Find causes that you're passionate about, be open-minded and willing to learn, flexible, and enjoy the experience! You are never too young or old to start volunteering and there are opportunities available for different interests and skills. Since high school, I've been involved with a variety of groups and activities, from climbing the CN Tower for a community fundraiser to organizing Engineers Week activities in the US to teaching English in Indonesia to building a house in Nepal. The possibilities are limitless and you have the power to make a difference in the world -take action today!
Have an idea to change the world? Project Inspire is now open for applications until July 1st. Find out more at http://projinspire.com/
A special Thanks to Christine to take the time and share with us her inspiring thoughts on volunteering.
As she mentioned, there are different volunteering opportunities suitable for everyone. To find out more about an opportunity that you could get involved in that could fit around your existing busy schedule, come and talk to us at our next Volunteering Orientation event! Find out more here
Do you have an inspiring or thought provoking story or experience you would like to share? If so please get in touch -we'd love to hear from you!