VolunteeringWorks!
When the National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating was released in 1997, new information became available on youth and volunteering. The Survey found that the majority of youth volunteers who were unemployed believed that volunteer efforts would increase their chances of finding a job, and that one third of all volunteers believed that their volunteering had given them new skills that could be applied directly to the workplace.
Around the same time, many secondary school boards across Canada began to make volunteering a component of their curriculum.
As a response to both these Survey statistics and curriculum changes, Volunteer Canada initiated a project entitled VolunteeringWorks! in 1999. Funded by the Government of Canada and Gap Canada, the project was designed to help youth volunteers, as well as parents, teachers, counsellors and facilitators, make the link between volunteer activity and work experience, and to demonstrate the overall value of volunteering.
Around the same time, many secondary school boards across Canada began to make volunteering a component of their curriculum.
As a response to both these Survey statistics and curriculum changes, Volunteer Canada initiated a project entitled VolunteeringWorks! in 1999. Funded by the Government of Canada and Gap Canada, the project was designed to help youth volunteers, as well as parents, teachers, counsellors and facilitators, make the link between volunteer activity and work experience, and to demonstrate the overall value of volunteering.
About Volunteering Works! - Information about the progrm, products and our parteners -
Volunteering touches every part of a community and is something that is regularly practiced by over 6.5 million Canadians. The 1997 National Survey on Giving,
Volunteering and Participating found that over 65% of youth volunteers who were unemployed believed that their volunteer efforts would increase their chances of finding a job. One third of all volunteers believed that their volunteering had given them new skills that could be applied directly to the workplace.
Volunteering and Participating found that over 65% of youth volunteers who were unemployed believed that their volunteer efforts would increase their chances of finding a job. One third of all volunteers believed that their volunteering had given them new skills that could be applied directly to the workplace.
With these statistics in mind, and with many secondary school boards across Canada making volunteering a component of their curriculum, Volunteer Canada has developed a series of career awareness products, which are directed at youth volunteers, their parents, and the counselors and/or facilitators who co-ordinate volunteering. These products will provide Canadians with tools that will demonstrate both the link between volunteering activities and real work experience, and the overall importance of volunteerism in the community.
Volunteering Works! is a suite of career awareness products that will provide Canadians with tools that will demonstrate both the link between volunteering activities and paid work experience, as well as the overall importance of volunteerism in the community.
Canadian voluntary agencies will also benefit from these products. They will be able to provide added value to their volunteer programs if they can clearly make the link between volunteering and work experience. Because of the diminished support provided by funding organizations, many agencies now depend on volunteers to implement their programs. This participation from the community also helps to strengthen the capacity of these agencies to deliver their mandated programs.
Products in this suite include:
A Youth Booklet aimed at young Canadians aged 15 -30. This booklet will help them to make the link between volunteering and work/life skills development. It will also highlight some general issues around volunteering, and have in-depth information and exercises on how to identify skills learned and how to integrate them into a resume.
A Youth Booklet aimed at young Canadians aged 15 -30. This booklet will help them to make the link between volunteering and work/life skills development. It will also highlight some general issues around volunteering, and have in-depth information and exercises on how to identify skills learned and how to integrate them into a resume.
A Parent's Guide to help parents get involved in volunteering and skills development. With the dwindling resources in the schools, it becomes more important for parents to keep "in the loop" of what their children are asked to do in school. A separate guide targeted to and written in parent-friendly language will help them to readily understand and relate to the issues.
A Facilitator's Guide to support the teachers, counsellors and others who assist youth. Since many schools have encouraged their students to seek out agencies or volunteer centres directly, external facilitators and school staff need to know how to answer youth's questions about where to find appropriate placements, how to identify the skills learned through their volunteer placement and how to integrate these skills into their resumes.
Posters designed to raise awareness of the importance of using volunteer experience in gaining valuable work skills. These eye-catching posters will be used in schools,
colleges and universities, guidance offices, volunteer centres and their affiliated agencies across Canada.
An Interactive Web Site with fun and interactive exercises to entice youth to explore the opportunities in skills development through volunteering. There will also be important links to other career information and volunteering sites. Facilitators will also be able to download exercises and lesson plans available in the Facilitator's Guide.
A Promotional Brochure targeted at facilitators, parents, youth and counsellors to provide general facts and ordering information about the entire suite of products.
Volunteer Canada is the national centre for volunteerism. We work closely with four provincial centres (including the federation of 109 volunteer centres in Québec) and 86 local volunteer centres throughout the country. Our shared mandate is to promote excellence in volunteerism in Canada. Our membership includes national charaties,
associations, non-governmental organizations, corporations and individuals.
Volunteer Canada wishes to thank the National Career Awareness Committee for their valuable assistance in the creation of this product.
associations, non-governmental organizations, corporations and individuals.
Volunteer Canada wishes to thank the National Career Awareness Committee for their valuable assistance in the creation of this product.
Denise Bekkema Storefront for Voluntary Agencies in Yellowknife, NT | Ruth Blasnber Heather Ratcliffe-Hood British Columbia Ministry of Education | Duane Herperger Canada Career Consortium |
Judy Neilsen Storefront for Voluntary Agencies in Yellowknife, NT | Joe Brennan New Brunswick Department of Education | Valerie Cooper Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources (CAVR) |
Nadine Maillot Volunteer Centre of Calagary, AB | June Lichti Ontario Ministry of Education | Leslie Evans Youth Volunteer Corps of Canada |
Tara Gauld Volunteer Centre of Thunder Bay, ON | Mary Lou Gormley Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres | Sylvie Cloutier Phil Jarvis National Life Work Centre |
Pierre Riley Fédération des centres d'action bénévole au Québec (FCABQ), QC | Lee Wallace Car-Ed Consulting, ON | Don Lapierre Meagan Gales Liz Hong-Farrell Eric Bemben Volunteer Canada |
Sean Murray Community Services Council, Volunteer Centre of St. John's, NF | Lee Jacobs Software Human Resources Council | Matthew Blue Human Resources Development Canada |
Duane Herperger Canada Career Consortium | Production Team: Accurate Design & Communication Inc. The Gordon Writing Group | |
All activities in Volunteering Works! products have been reviewed against the competencies and performance indicators in the Blueprint for Life/Work Designs for high school students in the areas of personal management, work and learning exploration, and career building.
The Blueprint for Life/Work Designs is a conceptual framework for career information developers. It is designed to guide them in developing products that will help users master the competencies required to achieve desired life/work goals.
The Blueprint for Life/Work Designs is a conceptual framework for career information developers. It is designed to guide them in developing products that will help users master the competencies required to achieve desired life/work goals.
Blueprint for Life Work Designs
Product Coding Matrix: Level Three (PDF - 16.6KB)
Product Coding Matrix: Level Four (PDF - 16.6KB)
Product Coding Matrix: Level Three (PDF - 16.6KB)
Product Coding Matrix: Level Four (PDF - 16.6KB)
Visit lifework.ca for more information.
Q: Is there a charge for these products?
A: A minimal shipping charge will be applied to mailed out orders.
Q: What if I want only one copy? 50 copies? Several copies?
A: There will be a sliding scale for shipping which will be dependent on the volume to be shipped as well as distance.
Q: May I order one copy and make photocopies?
A: Yes. Though Volunteer Canada owns the intellectual property for these products, photocopying is allowed. The material will also be available on the Web site. Feel free to print or download the information as required.
Q: Where can I find more information about these products on your Web site?
A: You can go to the Volunteering Works! Project section of the Volunteer Canada Web site and discover more information by clicking on the link button with the Volunteering Works! logo on it. You can find many interesting facts about youth volunteerism as outlined in the various career awareness products.
Q: Can these products be used in training groups or individuals?
A: Yes. These products are meant to be very flexible in order to meet the needs of many different users. All activities in the Youth booklet: Volunteering Works! Be part of shaping your future, are designed to be used with either groups or individuals as well as either young or older participants. Should the adaptations offered not suit your needs, contact your local volunteer centre for suggestions or contact us here at Volunteer Canada.
Q: Is there training provided for facilitators wanting to use these products?
A: Yes. Y our local volunteer centre may have the resources to provide the necessary training in order to gain maximum benefit from the use of these products. Should you not have a volunteer centre in your community that provides this training, please feel free to contact us here at Volunteer Canada.
Q: Is there a local distributor for these products, or do I have to order them from Volunteer Canada?
A: Yes there may be a local distributor in your community. Try contacting your local volunteer centre. Remember that it is always best to call ahead in order to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of the product in stock.
Q: What if I am in Ottawa and want to pick up my own order?
A: Great. Just give us a call in order to ensure that there are sufficient numbers in stock and come on over with a bag or a box.
Q: Will my name and address be sold to anyone if I place an order for products?
A: No. All contact information remains the property of Volunteer Canada and will remain so.
Why Volunteering?
Why Volunteering?: Giving & Receiving
- Volunteering -- it's a way of giving and receiving -
When you volunteer, you give part of yourself–your time, energy, skills and feelings. You give to your family and friends, to your neighbours, to your community. Sometimes, you are giving to people you don’t know, to people thousands of miles away.
Giving is one of the reasons why people volunteer. Their contributions to others and to their communities bring them feelings of self-fulfillment and the knowledge that they have made a difference.
Volunteering is also a way of saying thank you. It’s a way of recognizing the countless others who, in big ways and small, have made life richer and better through donations of time and effort. But there is more to volunteering than giving. As a volunteer, you also reap personal benefits and enhance your personal growth. You:
increase social awareness
learn through service
enjoy better health
gain self-confidence
discover your strengths and talents
build a sense of independence
expand your social circle
And volunteering gets you ready for the workforce.
learn through service
enjoy better health
gain self-confidence
discover your strengths and talents
build a sense of independence
expand your social circle
And volunteering gets you ready for the workforce.
By volunteering you:
develop skills
gain work experience
explore career options
develop a job-finding network
gain work experience
explore career options
develop a job-finding network
With a strong résumé and new skills, you’ll find it easier to strut your stuff to prospective employers, fill out university or college application forms, talk to scholarship or bursary officers, or take on more challenging volunteer positions in the community.
That’s the thing about volunteering. You get as much out of it as you put into it! And often, you get a whole lot more.
So, roll up your sleeves and get involved. Start by reading this booklet. It will answer some of your questions and give you other ideas to think about. It will also show you ways of getting the most out of volunteering.
As a youth, you will find volunteering a great experience. But it doesn’t stop now. By catching the volunteer bug, you will be giving yourself a lifetime of rewarding experiences.
- Enhance your personal growth -
Volunteering goes beyond your career search. You will find volunteering fulfilling in many other ways.
ENHANCE SOCIAL AWARENESS
As a volunteer working with others, you'll learn to appreciate and work with people's differences. As a result, you'll stay in touch with your community, its needs and issues. Your social awareness will grow through real experience.
LEARN THROUGH SERVICE
Service-learning refers to "helping" activities undertaken by students as part of the regular school curriculum. Service-learning offers young people opportunities to try new tasks and to take on new roles. It is active learning in the familiar environment of the local community. (And often, it gives you a terrific chance to compete in job markets after graduation.)
ENJOY BETTER HEALTH
Volunteering can give your mind, soul, heart, and body a jump-start! You'll be happier and healthier and have a purpose and greater sense of self-satisfaction. Volunteering can even lower your stress level, heighten your immune system and help you sleep better at night.
Many people report feeling healthy and content as a result of their volunteer activities. Go ahead. Give it a try.
GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE
One advantage of volunteering is that you get practice adjusting to new situations, people and experiences. The more practice you get, the greater your self-awareness and self-confidence. You develop the confidence you need when faced with new situations involved in looking for paid work!
DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS AND TALENTS
Volunteering can reveal hidden talents. You may be able to assume responsibilities or take on challenges you didn't know you were capable of.
BUILD A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE
Volunteering empowers you. Many volunteer jobs require you to act independently and take initiative. Such jobs give you a sense of control over your own life: you set your goals, make your choices and follow your routines. When you know your capabilities, you have the power to change your life and the lives of others.
EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE
Ask some volunteers why they work without pay. They'll probably say they work for the fun of it. Yes, volunteering is usually fun.
Remember, volunteers have chosen their jobs carefully and are appreciated for their contributions. They're doing something for the love of it. Volunteer at a music festival and you'll meet people who love music. Volunteer at a hospital and enjoy the rewards of giving comfort. Volunteer with a community theatre and exercise your talents- not just in acting but in lighting, sound, construction, directing, costumes, makeup, sales and promotion.
Remember, volunteers have chosen their jobs carefully and are appreciated for their contributions. They're doing something for the love of it. Volunteer at a music festival and you'll meet people who love music. Volunteer at a hospital and enjoy the rewards of giving comfort. Volunteer with a community theatre and exercise your talents- not just in acting but in lighting, sound, construction, directing, costumes, makeup, sales and promotion.
- Increase your career opportunities -
Skill—an action-packed noun
Skills are talents, traits and practical knowledge. They can be developed through life experiences such as formal education, training, work, leisure activities, home and family life. Skills are not static. They can be sharpened and adapted to new situations.
From a career perspective, volunteering has a lot to offer.
DEVELOP SKILLS
When you volunteer, you gain skills and knowledge that may help you get paid work. You also develop qualities useful in all workplaces: punctuality, dependability, the ability to work on a team and the ability to handle pressure. Then there are your self-management and work-readiness skills. Everyone needs practice in decision making, problem solving and leadership.
GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE
Do you have real, nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty, roll-up-your-sleeves-and- dig-in work experience? The kind employers want. If not, where are you going to get it? You can't get the experience employers want if you can't get a job in the first place…right?
Wrong! Volunteer jobs provide hands-on learning experience. They give you the experience and qualifications necessary to develop a résumé and portfolio.
FIND OUT ABOUT THE WORK WORLD
How are you going to find out which job environment is right for you?
Volunteer. You'll discover the realities of the work world. You'll gain practical knowledge about organizations and how they work on a day-to-day basis.
LEARN TO MARKET YOURSELF
Marketing your best assets will be easier after filling out job application forms and going to interviews in the volunteer world.
EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS
You've got the ability, but what about the suitability? Volunteering gives you a chance to discover whether or not you're really suited to a particular line of work.
Tackling a volunteer position will ease the move from school to work. And if you've been working and want to try something new, take a volunteer job to test the waters before you jump in.
To explore what's right for you:
select assignments that place you in the type of setting you want to learn about;
ask for as much training as you can get;
ask to be promoted to more challenging tasks;
work side-by-side with professionals who can answer questions about their careers.
Volunteering offers the luxury of working in a supportive environment. You'll learn from the experience, including much that you didn't expect to learn. And the community will benefit, too. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
NETWORK FOR SUCCESS BY VOLUNTEERING
As a volunteer, you'll meet people from all walks of life and communities. Introduce yourself and let people know what you're interested in and good at. You'll establish relationships you might not otherwise build. All of this is networking and it's the key to finding work. The more people you meet, the greater your chances of finding the work you want.
Network every chance you get. Each new person you meet through your volunteer work-a supervisor, client, supplier or committee member-is a potential lead to new career opportunities. Make sure that the person knows who you are and what you can do. And don't forget to network with other volunteers—their recommendation or tip can be the key to a job.
Find a mentor in your volunteer organization. Following the foot-steps of someone with experience and know-how can fast-track you through the paid employment door.
Networking doesn't require a lot of fancy footwork, but it will help you get a step ahead of the competition.
- Volunteering -- Value it for life -
Volunteering doesn't have to be a one-time experience. For many, it's a lifetime activity. What you gain from volunteering will change. There will always be new skills, new experiences and new feelings of satisfaction. Volunteering is often hard work but it is rarely dull. There may be times when life doesn't allow you to volunteer. But it will always be there when you need it to enrich your life. Take joy in the knowledge that you can always give.
But it will do a whole lot more. It will develop you as a person, too. You will discover new parts of yourself, make friends, try new experiences and know the satisfaction of helping others and being a part of a community.
It's time to think things over. Are you ready to join the work world? If yes, do yourself a favour: volunteer to get a head start. The effort will put you on the road to the job or career you're after.
What are you waiting for?
Volunteering Works! You give a little... and you get a lot.
Achievements
VolunteeringWorks! was an integrated collection of complementary career awareness publications that included: a Youth Booklet for young Canadians aged 15 -30; a Parent's Guide; a Facilitator's Guide; Posters; an interactive Web Site; and a Promotional Brochure. All the components worked together to help young people identify strengths and competencies, choose goals, find appropriate placements, identify learned skills and incorporate new skills into their resumes. They also contained a wealth of information on volunteering in general, and provided helpful tools and exercises for adults supporting youth volunteers throughout the process.
