5 great ways to volunteer

Omar Malik shows us how volunteering can be a fun and rewarding experience right in your neighbourhood.

''Student Volunteering Week is an annual occasion that promotes volunteering to students nationwide.'' ''The library may seem like a dreary place to volunteer, but working there involves more than just re-shelving books.''

Student Volunteering Week was originally started as part of the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, to raise awareness of the importance of volunteering. Now Student Volunteering Week is an annual occasion that promotes volunteering to students nationwide.

As a little incentive to help you join in, I thought I'd share my ideas on ways in which you can volunteer locally, right in your own community.

1) Hospitals are generally willing to accept student volunteers, and are a great place to explore any medical careers you may be interested in. Dealing with patients will gradually increase your personal skills, and it's a great insight into the medical profession. (In the UK you must be 18 or over to volunteer in hospitals - Ed.)

2) The library may seem like a dreary place to volunteer, but working there involves more than just re-shelving books. Libraries have opportunities to set up workshops or help with existing ones. A friend of mine recently collected books for a library that she's helping to organise, and received hundreds of books simply by asking around.

3) Clean your community. Gather a group of people to help keep a park clean and make it an enjoyable place for everyone to spend time. If you think a whole park is daunting then start with your street. A church group near my home dispatched volunteers in an effort to keep the town spotless. The group cleared the road of trash, and shoveled and salted the sidewalks when it snowed.

4) Volunteering for your local government will certainly reward you with a plethora of experience and knowledge. Wherever you live, you can learn valuable information about how the government works, and by interacting with officials you will certainly improve your interpersonal skills.

5) NGOs are constantly looking for new volunteers and all the info can be found on the Internet. It's really simple so there's no excuse not to at least have a look. The internet is a powerful tool for searching for what you want. If you feel you can't find any volunteering options that truly interest you, then have a look at the thousands of choices online.

Volunteering prepares students for work and definitely increases your employability. You will find that volunteering can teach you about teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills - utilising them in a creative and challenging manner. Not only will you learn how to apply such useful skills in their life, you'll also be making a difference to the world.