Infographic: The Journey of the Volunteer

Volunteering is a safe space. First-time volunteers can interact with unfamiliar issues and with people (beneficiaries) they may not ordinarily cross paths with due to so-called “invisible” social and economic barriers. In and out groups exist for many reasons, but often they exist because people refuse to interact with the unknown; and “unknown” often translates to people who live lives less fortunate or very unlike our own. If first-time volunteers are given an experience that feels meaningful, that challenges their perceptions, not only are they more likely to keep volunteering – they begin to understand they are an important thread that makes up the fabric of our society. They begin to see that volunteering is not just about helping, it’s about belonging: to our communities, and to one another.

Check out this resource on the Journey of the Volunteer to learn more about the three stages of the volunteer journey: Tourist, traveler and guide. Want more? Check out our full guide here.

Realized Worth is a global agency that specializes in employee volunteer training, volunteer program design, and employee engagement. Call us to discuss opportunities for your company, or shoot us an email. You can also reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter.