Volunteering without borders
In a democracy the involvement of citizens in social and political life of the country is very important.
You can get involved as a volunteer or work for and non‑governmental organization (a foundation or an association).
When you start paying taxes, you can assign 1% of your tax to a chosen public benefit organization.
You will understand the benefits of voluntary work – not only to those who are being helped, but also to the volunteer himself.
You will find out about a couple of international organizations organizing voluntary work and will be able to describe their main scope of interestscope of interest.
You will be able to look for possibilities of voluntary work abroad for young people like you.
Thanks to voluntary work you can not only help others, but also meet new people, visit new places around the world, and gain professional experience. EmployersEmployers value such activity a lot. Remember, your community workcommunity work might be appreciatedbe appreciated much sooner – students, who worked as volunteers, receive extra points when applying to high schools! If you decide to become a volunteer you have to follow certain rules. These rules are not stated in any laws or regulations. They are a set of informal principles of conduct, every volunteer should respect.
1. I will fulfill all tasks related to the role assumed.
2. I will not make promises that I can not fulfill.
3. If I cannot meet my obligations, I will inform the volunteer work coordinator.
4. I will be discreet about private matters and avoid behaviors that may be misunderstood.
5. I will be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
6. I will use the chance to get to know and learn new things from other people.
7. I will not criticize things I do not understand.
8. I will ask about things that I do not understand.
9. I will work in a team.
10. I will be a person you can rely on.
11. I will do my best at doing what I am expected to do.
12. I will be happy to learn; I know that learning is an inseparable part of any job well done.
13. I will attend obligatory meetings.
14. I will try to be a very good volunteer.
Workcamps
Workcamps is a long‑term project coordinated in Poland by Volunteerism Promotion Association (Stowarzyszenie Promocji Wolontariatu) and the FIYE Poland International Youth Exchange and Voluntary Service Centre (Centrum Międzynarodowej Wymiany Młodzieży i Wolontariatu). The purpose of the project is to integrate people from different countries through working together for the benefit of the local community. For example in 2013, a dozen or soa dozen or so people from seven countries came to Wieliszew to clean up rubbish from the shoresshores of the Zegrze ReservoirZegrze Reservoir and to carry out an information campaign on recycling and various forms of creative waste processing.
Polish youth can participate in similar projects around the world. All you have to do is go to the Workcamps website, choose the country you would like to go to, find your nearest interests in the form of volunteering (you can look after children or people with disabilities, organize various events, help with archaeological work) and sign up to one of the camps. You can participate in some of the camps already once you are 14 years old.
European Voluntary Service (EVS)
European Voluntary Service (EVS) is one of the Erasmus+ programmes created and financed by the European Commission. The aim of EVS is to develop a sense of solidarity in young people, promoting the idea of tolerance for cultural diversity, which should facilitate social cohesionfacilitate social cohesion in the European Union in the future. EVS achieves this through the joint work of volunteers outside their own country. Young people work with children, seniors, join various projects aimed at protecting cultural heritagecultural heritage or combating racismcombating racism. People aged 18 to 30 can spend from 2 to 12 months abroad, assisting free of charge the implementation of various projects for local communities. You can find more information on the programme on the Erasmus website, and read more about specific projects on the European Youth Portal website (English version, tab: Volunteering).
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
World Wildlife Fund is an international foundation, whose mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment. The dream of WWF employees is a world where people live in harmony with nature. In Poland, the organization contributed to, among others, the creation of the Biebrza National Park. Another interesting WWF action is the possibility of virtual adoption of animals threatened with extinctionthreatened with extinction: wolves, porpoisesporpoises, bears, seals, but also tigers and elephants. Virtual adoption increases the chances of these species to survive. WWF alertsalerts – every fourth species of mammalsmammals, every eighth species of birds and every third species of amphibians can soon disappear from the face of the Earth. See more on the website.
Amnesty International (AI)
Amnesty International is an international non‑governmental organization, whose aim is to prevent violations of human rights. Amnesty, on the one hand, organizes peaceful civic campaigns, and on the other – provides financial and legal assistance to persecuted persons. The organization received the Nobel Prize in 1977 for its contribution to strengthening the foundations of freedom, justice, and thus peace throughout the world. Amnesty International Poland organizes the Letter Writing Marathon. Every year, volunteers write hundreds of thousands of letters to defend people whose rights are violated. It is the largest action in Poland involving such a large number of people in the defense of human rights. This event, invented by the Polish section of Amnesty International, has become an inspiration for other countries and is now an international event – we read on the AI website.
How old do you have to be to become a volunteer under the European Voluntary Service programme?
- 18–30 years old
- 14–30 years old
- 15–25 years old
Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise. Match the pairs: English and Polish words.
ułatwiać spójność społeczną, praca społeczna, być docenianym, zagrożone wyginięciem, zwalczać rasizm, dziedzictwo kulturowe, zakres zainteresowań, prześladowany
| scope of interest | |
| community work | |
| to be appreciated | |
| to facilitate social cohesion | |
| cultural heritage | |
| to combat racism | |
| threatened with extinction | |
| persecuted |
Keywords
volunteering, non‑governmental organizations, Workcamps, European Voluntary Service, World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International
Glossary
zakres zainteresowań
pracodawca
cenić
praca społeczna
być docenianym
kilkanaście
brzeg
Zalew Zegrzyński
ułatwiać spójność społeczną
dziedzictwo kulturowe
zwalczać rasizm
zagrożone wyginięciem
morświn
alarmować
ssaki