It isn't always the right time

(image exported from http://www.help2read.org/)

I recently started volunteering with an NGO called Help2Read. One of the most important points I took from my training day was that ‘not everybody is at that point in their lives where they are ready to give of their time for others.’ It is so true; when I was in high school as part of our curriculum we had to do a certain amount of community work every year, whether we wanted to or not. During those five years the volunteer work I did was irregular and only done so that I could have my hours signed off on. I wasn’t really helping others, I was helping myself; doing my share of community service looked good on my high school transcript. Volunteering with Help2Read is worth more to me than my next transcript.

I heard about Help2Read at varsity one day and thinking back to my Gap Year and the amount of time I spent helping young children with their reading, I thought I might have something to offer. I certainly have time to offer; having two full days free of any lectures, I am available during school hours. After sending in my CV and application form I heard back almost immediately. Help2Read is always looking to increase their volunteer numbers; there will never be enough volunteers to help all those children struggling to read in what is so often not even their home language.

Now what made me contact Help2Read at this point in my life, I will never know exactly, but I did. I wanted to give some of my time. I wanted to volunteer my hours without receiving pay in a monetary form. I wanted to give up those two hours I spend in front of the television.

This post is not intended to persuade you to become a volunteer at Help2Read. I wrote this post to remind those of us that do volunteer that ‘not everybody is at that point in their lives where they are ready to give of their time for others.’ Some people have very demanding careers, and others have young children who need their support. These people should not be looked down on because they do not volunteer; you and I were once those people too. 



(image exported from http://www.macotar.blogspot.com/)





(image exported from http://www.ericanchong.blogspot.com/)