Often, when volunteering is brought up in conversations or promoted from various organizations and NGOs, the focus tends to be on the positive impact it has on others. Volunteering strengthens communities and makes the world a slightly (but significantly) better place. And while this is absolutely true and remains the heart of volunteering, what’s sometimes overlooked is how much you, the volunteer, stand to gain from the experience as well. Volunteering is not just about giving — it’s also about growing.

Here are a few ways how:

Making New Connections

Volunteering brings together people from different places, whether that’s culturally, religiously, or other walks of life, and unites them over a shared goal. Through volunteering, you get to meet individuals you might never have crossed paths with otherwise, from community leaders, professionals, to fellow volunteers who share your passions. Volunteering gives you a unique opportunity to create relationships that go beyond the volunteer project itself, gaining friendships and future career connections. 

A Crucial Highlight on Your CV

Speaking of career, employers more and more continue to value volunteer experience. It shows initiative, teamwork, commitment, empathy, and applicable qualities that stand out in any job application. Especially if you are just starting your career, having volunteer work on your CV signals that you are someone who cares and is able to contribute to something larger than yourself. 

Learning New Skills and Abilities

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to advance essential skills, such as organization and coordination, as well as allowing you to gain skills in communicating with a diverse group of people, critical thinking, personal and communal reflection, skills that will stay with you far beyond your volunteer role, both in your professional and personal life. 

Boosting Your Mental Health
A recent study in 2023 observed that volunteering comes with a multitude of benefits: not just to mental, but also physical and social well-being. Stating that volunteering particularly “increased functioning, quality of life, pride, empowerment, motivation, social support, and sense of community”. Engaging in a purposeful activity, being part of a team, and seeing the positive difference you make are all powerful contributors to well-being, strengthening your sense of belonging, increasing fulfilment, and self-esteem. 

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
Trying something unfamiliar or new can be intimidating, but that’s exactly where growth happens. Volunteering exposes you to new environments and challenges you to adapt, communicate, and think differently. The confidence you gain from successfully navigating these experiences empowers you to take on future challenges, now equipped with a valuable toolbox of skills and insights learned through your volunteer journey!

Join UNYA!

Joining the United Nations Youth Association is not just about volunteering, it’s about becoming part of a global movement that empowers young people to make real change, joining an organization that is for the youth and led by the youth. As a UNYA member, you will have the opportunity to contribute to or shape projects that reflect the values of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals, by promoting and joining various events and engaging in meaningful dialogue about global challenges. 

You will connect with passionate, like-minded individuals who care about creating a more sustainable and inclusive world. Whether you are interested in gender equality, climate action, international relations, security and peace, or simply want to make a positive difference, UNYA gives you the platform, the community, and the experience to grow. 

So if you are ready to learn, lead, and take action on issues that matter, join UNYA Denmark! Where effort truly makes an impact on not only others but on you as well.