Benefits of volunteerism

Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development
challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. The idea of empowerment often refers to marginalised groups. At the heart of empowerment is the development of new knowledge and skills gained through participation. There are numerous instances in which skills development has enabled people to improve their own lives and the lives of others, and how volunteers play a critical role in imparting skills and implementing development programmes for empowerment. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. Not only does volunteering help empower beneficiaries, but it is also a means for volunteers themselves to be empowered through the experiences and insights they gain.