Volunteering

Volunteering is one splendid way of contributing to the society. You do not need to own a organisation or space to work and yet contribute to the cause of your choice and to demographic categorical people you want to. It is so simple, yet so complex. Before you go further, It is quite important you understand the world of change makers and the organisations that are working for realizing the dreams of many.

The Organisations 

There is a wide spectrum of categories of the organisations , one can choose to work with. The following are few for example. I have listed the categories and also their functionality. All though this is so brief, the mentioned outline shall explain their purposes.

NGO / Trusts  - Non Governmental Organisations / Trusts mean one and the same. The main difference would be, NGO needs 7 people minimum for registration, and each of them must not be related, and be ideally from different walks of life. While a Trust can be registered even with 2 people, and can be related too.

CSO - Civil Society Oragnisations or CSOs are associations of  same industry like Rice Mills Owners Associations, Hotel Owners Associations, Teachers Associations etc., These CSOs are generally present as an association at Block or Mandal or District or State levels in general, while their presence is as individual body at the grassroots level 

CBOs - Community Based Oraganisations, as the Name suggests, are formed at Community level. Their presence is basically formal or informal . They are more organised when the government and NGOs are proactive at grassroots level. Communities generally have CBOs like  - Women Self Help groups, Water Committees etc., The more active CBOs at ground level means a stronger and better gram panchayat system. 

NPOs - Not for Profit Organisations, besides contributing to the community they also focussed on generating sustainable revenues. The NPOs pay for the staff members and others associated in the process. Additional income is re-invested into the same organisation for enhancement of the organisation

Cooperative Societies - Cooperative Societies work with various individuals or organisations working on similar entrepreneurship areas. Like weavers , BD makers, Honey traders etc . As an cooperative society they will have opportunity to avail financial support to expand their operations and also get subsidies and special access to sell their end products

Choosing the Organisation

As most people are familiar about NGOs, I shall explain more on volunteering at NGOs. This can be applied to the above mentioned various type organisations, wherever applicable.

Voluntary Organisations / NGOs are of following types :- 

• Community Organisations , here the organisations choose a geographic area and work in village(s) on specific issues, like girl child education or HIV/AIDS or sometimes even a multiple topics.
• Institutional Set up : Here organisations set up home for children or elders or specially challenged or others and help the vulnerable group by providing what is needed
• Besides above mentioned there are other organisations which involve on just Advocacy lobbying and other similar activities  

Within their area of interests, each organisation again may have their own way of working. For example I personally run a home for elders. Here we emphasize more on being a transit place for elders and provide counselling for elders and their care-takers who have adjustment difficulties. Similarly each organisation might work in a different manner with the same target community.

Knowing the Leadership

For starting a NGO it is not mandatory to be professionally qualified. This is quite a open platform suitable for any pro-active and socially inclined person to do the best possible from their end to the society. 

Although there are professional courses to do social work, like Bachelors in Social Work and Masters in Social Work, due to unstable NGO field, decline in funding from donor agencies, better opportunities with corporates under their Corporate Social Responsibilities and huge scope with government and banking sectors, there are very few MSWs who run institutions. So generally its someone with high motivation or corporates themselves or mid career individuals who saved enough or some one who has a backing / support from their known corners, run these organisations.

1. So as in the above mentioned scenario at a organisation run by  not so qualified or non - professionals there are several gaps. 
2. Even in case of a qualified professional it is generally lack of a good team that will badly affect the organisation , despite being a strong leader

In both the mentioned scenarios the NGOs will need volunteers at various levels

Challenges 

Volunteering is a art. However unless it is mentored / guided in a proper way, it does not serve the purpose of the volunteer or NGO. Mostly the NGOs are not aware of the ways to deal with a volunteer. Either they over burden or give work far less and a mismatch to the capability of a volunteer. It is not exaggeration that there are courses designed to lead and guide volunteers, either as  individuals or in groups.

During my trips to Denmark, South Korea and Sweden, I am personally trained in hosting international volunteers who visit NGOs for a week or upto few months.

In general as there is  no proper guidance the volunteers often end up giving up on working with NGOs right after 3 or 4 visits. So it is suggested the volunteers are willing to seek support or guidance from proper mentors.

List of NGOs

The list of NGOS can be found on several portals like  http://ngodarpan.gov.in/ (a govt portal) or www.karmayog.in and other similar several other platforms

Getting Started

Once you are all set to start your work, make sure you document the process as a blog or in a record book. 

Thank You

I did my best to explain in brief about volunteering. Feel free to comment below , if you need any further information

Good Luck !