Power of Volunteerism | Rob Simmons | TEDxWLUBrantford

Summary

The speaker envisions a world where everyone is happier, more caring, and active in their communities, emphasizing that volunteering can make this a reality. They highlight the challenges of declining volunteer rates and suggest making volunteering simpler and more attractive. By redefining volunteering as building stronger communities while having fun and improving oneself, the speaker encourages open conversations about volunteering. They propose that normalizing volunteer work can inspire others to get involved, creating a ripple effect that leads to widespread positive change.

Takeaways

• 😊 Volunteering can create a better, more understanding, and caring world by encouraging people to help each other.
• 💪 Volunteering is defined as doing work without being forced or paid, but it brings personal rewards and community benefits.
• 👶 Volunteering with children can have a tremendous impact by giving them opportunities and support to achieve amazing things.
• 🤔 Many organizations struggle to recruit and retain volunteers, which poses a significant challenge to their efforts.
• 📉 Volunteering rates in Canada have declined over the past decade, with fewer people volunteering fewer hours.
• 🏅 People volunteer to contribute to their communities, develop personal skills, and because of personal connections or social aspects.
• 💼 Volunteering allows individuals to use their professional skills, develop new ones, and grow personally and professionally.
• 👫 Socializing through volunteering improves mental and physical health, boosts self-esteem, and fosters understanding among people.
• 🗣️ The speaker encourages people to talk openly about volunteering to inspire others to get involved and contribute to their communities.
• 🌍 By normalizing volunteering and inspiring others to do the same, communities can grow stronger, happier, and more unified, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Q & A

What is the speaker’s main argument in the transcript?

The speaker argues that volunteering has the power to create a happier, more caring, and connected society. By making volunteering more accessible, meaningful, and fun, more people will engage in it, which can lead to widespread positive change in communities and even the world.

Why does the speaker believe volunteering can lead to a better world?

The speaker believes that volunteering helps build stronger communities and allows people to develop their best selves by working together to help others. This ripple effect of people becoming more compassionate and involved can spread from local communities to the entire world.

What challenges regarding volunteering are mentioned?

The challenges include difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteers, a decline in volunteer hours and long-term commitment, and a shift toward more short-term volunteering, which complicates planning for organizations.

How has the rate and nature of volunteering changed in recent years, according to the speaker?

Volunteer rates in Canada have decreased, with fewer people volunteering and those who do, committing fewer hours. Volunteers today are more likely to spread their efforts across several organizations and volunteer less frequently, making it harder for organizations to plan and retain a consistent volunteer base.

What personal benefits does the speaker associate with volunteering?

The speaker lists personal benefits like improving physical and mental well-being, developing new skills, enhancing self-esteem, and fostering social connections. Volunteering also helps people bring out their ‘best self’ and strengthens relationships with others.

What societal divisions does the speaker believe volunteering can help overcome?

The speaker believes that volunteering can transcend divisions such as religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity because it brings people together around a common goal of helping others, fostering understanding and acceptance.

Why does the speaker encourage people to talk about volunteering more openly?

The speaker encourages open conversations about volunteering because it can inspire others to start volunteering. Many people do not volunteer simply because they don’t know how to get involved or have never been asked.

How does the speaker suggest people should introduce volunteering into conversations?

The speaker suggests adding volunteering into personal introductions and casual conversations, making it a natural part of one’s identity. This way, people can normalize volunteering and inspire others to engage.

What does the speaker mean by ‘normalizing being your best self’?

The speaker means that by regularly talking about volunteering and making it a part of everyday life, individuals can inspire themselves and others to continually act in ways that reflect their highest values, contributing to personal and communal growth.

What is the speaker’s call to action at the end of the transcript?

The speaker calls on the audience to ‘add their drop’ by talking about volunteering with others, sharing their experiences, and inspiring more people to engage in volunteering, thereby contributing to a ripple effect of positive change in society.