How volunteerism can change your world | Joyce Bertram | TEDxVilnius

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker explores the transformative power of volunteerism, drawing on their experience with Nowhere, a European event akin to Burning Man. They emphasize the importance of participation, sharing knowledge, experience, and passion to create a community-driven project. The speaker encourages listeners to initiate their own projects, highlighting that the joy of volunteering lies in the personal fulfillment and community impact, rather than material rewards.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Volunteerism is driven by more than just material incentives; it's about contributing to something meaningful without expecting monetary returns.
• 🏺 The Nowhere festival, inspired by Burning Man, is a testament to the power of volunteerism, where participants dedicate their time and skills to create a temporary community.
• 🤝 Volunteering fosters a culture of inclusion and self-reliance, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to contribute their unique skills and talents.
• 🛠 Skills and knowledge gained through volunteering can be transformative, enabling individuals to learn and grow in ways that might not be possible in their day-to-day lives.
• 🔧 Participation is a core principle of the volunteerism culture, emphasizing that everyone can contribute in their own way, regardless of their background or experience.
• 💡 Sharing ideas is crucial for initiating volunteer projects, as it allows like-minded individuals to connect and collaborate towards a common goal.
• 🌐 Knowledge sharing is not limited to formal education; everyone has valuable insights to offer, which can enrich and enhance the volunteer experience.
• 👣 Experience is a powerful teacher, and by sharing it, volunteers can pass on practical skills and wisdom that can benefit the entire community.
• 💥 Passion is a driving force in volunteerism, and when shared, it can inspire and motivate others to join in and contribute to the project.
• 🎉 The ultimate reason people volunteer is for the joy and fulfillment it brings, highlighting the intrinsic rewards of contributing to something greater than oneself.

Q & A

What is the main reason people volunteer according to the speaker?

The main reason people volunteer, as per the speaker, is not for material benefits like free drinks or T-shirts, but because they are part of a volunteerism culture and they enjoy what they do.

What is Nowhere and how is it related to Burning Man?

Nowhere is described as the European counterpart to Burning Man, sharing the same principles such as self-expression, self-reliance, and inclusion. It involves building a temporary settlement in a desert area in Spain, living there for a while, and then dismantling it, leaving no trace.

How long has the speaker been involved with Nowhere?

The speaker has been involved with Nowhere as a volunteer for about five years.

What roles has the speaker taken on within the Nowhere event?

The speaker started by decorating toilets and eventually took on roles in volunteer coordination, media, and communication.

Why is participation important in the context of Nowhere and Burning Man?

Participation is important because it allows every individual to get involved in any way they choose, regardless of their background, which fosters a sense of community and shared contribution.

What skills did the speaker learn by being involved with Nowhere?

The speaker learned to build a structure and use a power drill, which were new skills for them, as well as learning how to give themselves a break to avoid overworking and how to prepare for stressful situations.

How does the speaker plan to use their experience at Nowhere in the future?

The speaker plans to use their experience to teach others how to build structures and possibly help in organizing teams and dealing with stressful situations.

What is the speaker's view on the potential of participatory communities?

The speaker believes that participatory communities like Nowhere can inspire and teach valuable skills, and that these experiences can be applied to change the world by implementing similar principles in our own lives.

What are the five things the speaker suggests sharing to make a volunteerism project happen?

The five things the speaker suggests sharing are: sharing your idea, sharing your knowledge, sharing your experience, sharing your passion, and sharing the joy of volunteering.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of sharing passion in a project?

The speaker emphasizes sharing passion because it is contagious and can elevate the project to a higher level by sparking excitement and improving the situation, leading to new opportunities and easier collaboration among participants.

What is the final message the speaker conveys to the audience?

The final message is an encouragement for everyone to consider their own ideas for projects, implement the five sharing principles discussed, and to take initiative in making a difference in their community and the world.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Power of Volunteerism in Community Building

The speaker reflects on the motivations behind volunteering, emphasizing that it's not about material rewards but the desire to contribute to something meaningful. They introduce 'Nowhere', a European event similar to Burning Man, which is built on principles of self-expression, self-reliance, and inclusion. The speaker shares their personal journey from decorating toilets to coordinating volunteers, media, and communication. They highlight the importance of participation, where everyone can contribute regardless of their background. The speaker also discusses the skills and knowledge they've gained and shared through their volunteer work, and encourages others to embrace volunteerism to bring about positive change in their communities.

05:02

📚 Sharing Knowledge and Experience in Volunteerism

The speaker delves into the concept of sharing knowledge and experience within volunteerism. They stress that everyone, regardless of their educational background, has valuable information to share. The speaker uses the example of learning to tie shoelaces correctly from a TED talk to illustrate how small pieces of knowledge can be significant. They emphasize the importance of sharing experiences, as it allows individuals to learn practical skills without formal education. The speaker also talks about the contagious nature of passion and how it can elevate a project and its participants. They conclude by suggesting that the joy and personal fulfillment derived from volunteering are the true rewards, encouraging listeners to consider their own potential projects and the impact they could have.

Keywords

💡Volunteerism

Volunteerism refers to the act of willingly participating in activities to serve the community or a cause without financial compensation. In the video, volunteerism is central to the theme as it discusses the motivations behind why people choose to dedicate their time and effort to help others or contribute to events like Nowhere. The speaker shares their personal journey from decorating toilets to coordinating volunteers, emphasizing the transformative power of volunteerism on both the individual and the community.

💡Participation

Participation denotes the act of taking part in events or activities. The video underscores the importance of participation in volunteerism, where every individual, regardless of their background, is encouraged to get involved in ways they choose. This concept is exemplified by the speaker's experience at Nowhere, where they learned new skills and taught others, highlighting the democratic and inclusive nature of the event.

💡Self-expression

Self-expression is the process by which individuals convey their thoughts, emotions, and ideas to others. The video mentions self-expression as one of the principles shared between Nowhere and Burning Man, suggesting that the events provide a platform for individuals to freely express themselves creatively and personally. This is evident in the various roles and tasks volunteers take on, from art creation to coordination.

💡Self-reliance

Self-reliance is the ability to rely on oneself, rather than depending on others. In the context of the video, self-reliance is a core principle of the Nowhere event, where participants are expected to be resourceful and independent. This is illustrated by the way the settlement is built and dismantled by volunteers, demonstrating a community that is self-sufficient and capable.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion refers to the act of including or involving all members of a group or community. The video stresses the importance of inclusion in the volunteerism culture, where everyone is welcome to contribute regardless of their background or skills. This is seen in the speaker's transition from a novice volunteer to a coordinator, showing that the community values and integrates all participants.

💡Community

Community here refers to a group of individuals who share common interests or values and work together towards a common goal. The video discusses the power of community in volunteerism, where people come together to create events like Nowhere. The community aspect is highlighted by the collective effort in building the settlement and the shared experiences of the volunteers.

💡Passion

Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion or enthusiasm. In the video, passion is identified as a driving force behind volunteerism. The speaker encourages sharing this passion to inspire and motivate others to join and contribute to projects. It is the passion for creating and being part of something meaningful that fuels the volunteer's commitment.

💡Ideas

Ideas in this context refer to the original thoughts or concepts that form the basis of a project or initiative. The video encourages sharing ideas as the first step in starting a volunteerism project. It suggests that communicating and discussing these ideas can attract like-minded individuals and potentially enhance the project, as seen with the speaker's initial involvement with Nowhere.

💡Knowledge

Knowledge is the understanding or awareness of facts, information, or skills acquired through experience or education. The video emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge within a volunteer community. The speaker shares their experience of learning new skills at Nowhere and how this knowledge can be passed on to others, fostering growth and learning within the community.

💡Experience

Experience is the practical knowledge or events a person has encountered or lived through. The video highlights the value of sharing experience in volunteerism, where the speaker learned to build structures and manage stress, which they could then teach to others. This sharing of experience enriches the community by transferring practical skills and insights.

💡Fun

Fun is a feeling of enjoyment or pleasure. The video concludes by emphasizing that one of the main reasons people volunteer is because it is fun and they enjoy the activities they are part of. This aligns with the idea that volunteerism should be a source of joy and fulfillment, as opposed to being solely about the end result or outcome.

Highlights

People volunteer not for material rewards but for the culture of volunteerism.

Nowhere is a European event similar to Burning Man, based on principles like self-expression and inclusion.

Nowhere relies entirely on volunteers for its settlement, art, and event organization.

Volunteering at Nowhere offers opportunities for personal growth and skill development.

Participation is a core principle, allowing anyone to contribute in their own way.

Volunteering can lead to teaching and learning valuable life and professional skills.

The speaker's personal journey from decorating toilets to coordinating volunteers.

Volunteerism can be a catalyst for community building and personal empowerment.

The importance of sharing ideas to start a volunteerism project.

Knowledge sharing is crucial, regardless of educational background.

Experience sharing is key to teaching practical skills and enhancing community capabilities.

Passion is essential and contagious in driving volunteerism projects.

Volunteering is often driven by enjoyment and personal fulfillment rather than financial gain.

Encouragement to take initiative on projects that spark passion, regardless of potential profit.

The transformative potential of volunteerism on individuals and communities.

The speaker's anticipation and excitement for others to embark on their volunteerism projects.

Transcripts

Translator: Denise RQ Reviewer: Robert Deliman

I often get the question why do people volunteer.

What is it that makes a person dedicate their time and effort

to something without expecting money in return.

I think we can all agree that people don't usually do it

because they get a couple of free drinks, a cool T-shirt, or a handful of stickers.

What these people are doing

makes them part of the volunteerism culture.

And I would like to tell you

how volunteerism culture can change our world.

This is Nowhere.

It's basically the European baby-brother of Burning Man.

We base ourselves on the same principles

such as self expression, self-reliance, and inclusion,

and we basically do the same things as our friends in the US.

We go out into a desert area in Spain,

we build a settlement, we live there for a while,

and then we take it all down again, and we leave nothing but footprints.

I've been involved with Nowhere as a volunteer for about five years now.

I started out decorating toilets,

and I ended up being in charge

of volunteer coordination, media, and currently, communication.

Nowhere is completely depending on volunteers.

Without these people there would be no settlement,

there wouldn't be any art, and there would simply be no event.

I know people who dedicate months of their lives, every single year,

to make this thing happen,

and I know other people, who just dedicate a few hours during one afternoon.

The difference between them doesn't matter to us

because of another principle that we have in common with Burning Man

which is participation.

Every single individual is able to get involved

whenever they want, in whatever way they choose,

regardless of their backgrounds.

Because of this participation,

I was able to learn a lot while working with the people at Nowhere.

For example, I learned to build a structure,

and I used to be someone

who didn't even know how to use a power drill.

I learned how to give myself a break, so as to not overwork myself,

and I learned how to prepare myself for a stressful situation.

I was also able to teach people.

I was able to teach people how they could organize their teams,

and help people dealing with stressful situations between individuals.

And this year, I'm going to go out there again,

and maybe I will be able to teach others how they can build their structures.

Now, I am not saying

we should go out to a desert all together and start building things.

What I'm saying is that we should have a closer look

at this participatory community, this culture of volunteerism,

and see what we can take from that

and implement that into our own lives to change our world.

Because we might have all heard people say this,

and we might have said it ourselves from time to time,

which is, "Why is nobody doing this, why this is not a project?

I wish someone would take this thing that I care about

and turn it into something that I can contribute to?"

In the community that I am a part of, we have a pretty simple answer to that:

I can't wait to see you do it.

And actually, when you consider it, it is that simple.

If you come across something

that sparks something in you, that sparks a passion

that fills you with excitement, that you feel should happen,

don't wait for others to take the initiative.

Step up and do it.

In this current society, it's really easy to think at that moment

like, "My project will not be able to generate a profit,"

or "I won't be able to pay people for contributing to what I want to do."

If we take this commercial idea away from it,

what you are left with, is a volunteerism project,

and how ow to make a volunteerism project happen is by sharing five things.

The first one is definitely the easiest one,

which is share your idea.

Communicate to people what that thing inside your head is

that needs to come out.

Tell others about this thing that you want to do,

and this project that you want to start.

Sooner or later, while you keep on communicating this,

you're going to come across other individuals,

who feel the same way,

who share that excitement for your project.

Or even better; you might come across people

who are able to add something to your project

and even take it to a higher level and improve it.

And before you know it, you might be sitting down,

having a brainstorm, taking notes,

and taking the first steps into making it happen.

And when it happens, share your knowledge.

And it really doesn't matter if you have a degree

of one of the most prestigious universities on the planet,

or whether you even haven't finished middle school.

Every single individual, regardless of their backgrounds,

has valuable information that is worth sharing.

For example, I learned through another TED talk by Terry Moore

that I've been tying my shoelaces wrong my entire life.

And I've been having a really good time sharing this knowledge with other people.

Though this may sound incredibly trivial, unimportant, and really small,

I can see the change that I can make for certain people,

how that adds something to what they know.

Just imagine if it would not be just this tiny little thing,

but something more important, something more essential.

And the effect that can have

on the people that are involved with your project

and the community around you.

And while that is happening, share your experience.

Our knowledge would be nothing without the experience we have in life.

Let's be honest, experience makes us amazing teachers.

When I was out there at Nowhere and learned how to build structure,

someone needed to explain to me how to use that power drill,

preferably, without hurting myself or others around me.

This person took his experience to transfer this skill onto me,

and this way I was able to go home with whole new skill set,

I was able to build something, physically actually build a structure.

In daily life, this would never be possible for me

because it's not something I do for a living,

and it's not something I have a degree in.

By sharing our experience we are able to share

our skill sets with other people, we can broaden each other's horizon

without dedicating ourselves to its study or taking up a new profession.

The next thing that I feel you should be sharing

is probably the most important one.

We've heard this word a lot today

- because actually, it's a pretty important word -

share your passion.

If you are starting this project, if you are doing this,

if you're getting all these people involved,

if you're dedicating all this time and energy into this,

that must mean you're passionate about what you're doing.

And you need to share that, you need to show that

because passion is incredibly contagious.

It is able to take you, and the people around you, and your project,

to a higher level

because it sparks more excitement in the people around you,

and it just improves the situation that you're in,

and you're always able to see new opportunities

and people will be able to bounce off of each other easier.

The last thing I feel you should be sharing

is the answer to the question that we started with:

why do people volunteer?

Because it's fun. Because they enjoy what they do.

Let's be honest, if you dedicate time and effort to something

without getting money in return, then why are you doing it?

Again, we know it's not because you get free drinks,

or a cool t-shirt, or a stack of buttons,

it's because you enjoy what you do,

because you enjoy what you take away from it as a person.

I believe that everybody, at some point in their lives,

must have had this idea for a project

and most people probably didn't go through with it.

Is it because you didn't feel it was worth it,

because it wouldn't generate a profit?

Or you didn't have the time or the confidence to do it?

Think about that project you might have had in your head once,

and just consider it for a moment,

and then implement those five things that you can share into that idea

and think about what that could do for you as a person,

how that could change the people that might get involved,

and how that could contribute to your community,

and how that could change your world.

I can't wait to see you do it!

Thank you.

(Applause)