Getting involved with an organisation will help build skills, empathy and compassion. It could be an old age home, an orphanage, a hospital, a school. Everyone appreciates a volunteer and who doesn’t need one. Many people are bored, lonely, in pain and really need someone to reach out to them. Some of these places may never be getting visitors.
I am considering an old age home and an orphanage as work experience, during the time that I study. The reason I chose an old age home and a chance to work with orphaned children is so that I gain insight and sensitivity into both kinds of age groups. These places welcome volunteers. To be a successful counsellor, I need to meet, communicate, nurture and build relationships. Have a rapport which enables people to warm up to me. The greatest reward of this kind of thing is not monetary, but spiritual. The kind of satisfaction it will bring knowing I have helped make a difference in someone’s life. Building a rapport does not necessarily mean i have to talk to them all the time, and get them to reveal their problems to me. Even sitting quietly together, reading or talking, playing a game, anything helps in building a rapport.
At an old age home, the old people are in a way resigned to their fate. They are lonely and isolated. Either at the old age home because they were not allowed to stay at their own home anymore or have no one to take care of them. Everyone needs some encouragement to fight back, a little goading to make a decision, to be spontaneous. A person who will simply sit and listen to them and probably play a little board game with them, may make them feel nice and give them something to look forward to. Also how many people really sit and listen to old people’s plight. Who will they tell their woes to? This is a way for me to assist and help these people at the same time, learn about counselling. It will teach How I can take any deep notions they have about themselves and turn them around in a positive manner. Make them treasure themselves. Feel precious at least for the rest of the days they live.
At the orphanage, the children are resigned to their fate too. They are a victim of circumstances. They have shelter and food. But who will listen to their chatter? If not all day, at least for a bit. Someone who they can tell their problems to or ask for advice from. Volunteers are welcome by the staffs of the homes, to teach English, play sports, teach arts and crafts or music, take part in daytrips, and generally show these kids as much love and caring as they can.
My concern for these 2 kinds of organisations is purely compassion. As Peter Drucker says: It’s important to do the right thing than to do things right. These 2 organisations are feeling like the right thing and I want to to do things right too. I’m sure I will get some work experience at any school too, but these are more important at this moment. I don’t know what is the right decision for me, but I am going with my conscience. What are your views about this? Do you think this is necessary or not? If not, can you explain a bit more? What according to you would help in the learning process? Please feel free to drop in a comment or word of advice.
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