‘Helper’s High’: How to Find The Best Volunteering Opportunities

Do you wish you could find volunteering opportunities that suite your schedule and align with your values or skills? Have you toyed with the idea of volunteering with a nonprofit, but don’t know where to start?

Volunteering is a great thing to do if you’re preparing to return to work or to progress your career, or simply if you simply want a way to give back.

When my kids were younger I did the usual volunteering at school whenever an extra pair of hands were needed. When they attended British school, I helped with the Christmas bazaar, Easter egg rolling contest, and Summer fete. When they were in an American school, I was ‘room-mom’ for a year and enjoyed supporting the teacher, my son and his classmates and getting a good glimpse ‘behind the scenes’.

As much as I’m happy I did all of that, I reached a point where I longed to volunteer in a different way. Rather than spending my time helping already privileged kids to have an even better time, I wanted to have more of an impact on those less fortunate. I learned of a once-a-week opportunity to help out at a soup kitchen and it turned out to be a rewarding experience beyond my expectations.

In this week’s video interview I speak to Tiia Sammallahti, the founder of whatCharity, about ‘Helper’s High’ and the meaning that volunteering gives people’s lives. Women who may have given up their careers to raise their family can be using their skill set and finding volunteering opportunities to help charities who really need them.

Tiia and I also talk about corporate responsibility and how whatCharity helped to align Project Me to a wonderful non-profit, You Make It, that helps empower young women with skills and confidence.  You can read about that here.

We also discuss my idea to organise a fun charity event that will bring Project Me women together to meet one another while supporting a meaningful cause. Who’s up for a run / walk or to jump on board on the Book Bus with me?

I hope you enjoy this interview! (You can also listen to it like you would a podcast if you’re on-the-go or folding that endless pile of laundry…)