Overall appraisal of the different types of voluntary work available
There are many different types of voluntary work available to everyone. Each different type has its
own traits and specific with various common elements present between the different types of
volunteering. Which type of volunteering is best then? The answer would simply be dependent upon
the individual asked, however each type of volunteering can be scrutinised and reviewed as some are
very demanding and difficult where others are not.
Skill based: Skill based volunteering involves a skilled individual and more likely a very skilled
individual to do a very specific task, this will automatically reduce the number of people who can do
this type of volunteering meaning its very limited. On the other hand by having skilled individuals
and specifically skilled individuals doing a specific task this type of volunteering is very effective and
will achieve goals set. The downside though is that the volunteer work is long and can be as long as it
takes until goals are met. Skill based volunteering can be done anywhere in the world meaning that
anyone can benefit from it and everyone can be involved and LEDCs (less economically developed
countries) can offer something back to MEDCs (more economically developed countries). So in
conclusion skill based volunteering is limited in the number of people it can involve and can take a
long time, but it is effective, global in scope and provides help to MEDCs as well; as LEDCs.
Overseas: overseas volunteering can involve anyone but often the objective of volunteering will put
people off, or will require skilled individuals, however overseas volunteering is not limited. By having
anyone though the volunteering cannot be automatically effective and may just be a cheap solution
to a serious problem, however if overseas volunteers put a church up in the middle of Bolivian jungle
for local Christians then none of those Christians would say the voluntary work wasn`t effective. This
means how the overseas volunteers are used and what they do determines if there volunteering was
effective or not.
Virtual: Virtual volunteering has the potential to include anyone; however it relies upon very skilled
volunteers to give up their time. Virtual volunteering is also entirely dependent upon the use of
technology such as PDA`s and Smartphones in order to work. This means that whilst one skilled
volunteer could be affecting thousands of people those people would all have to have access to the
sort of technology that enables this. As such virtual volunteering cannot be used in LEDCs as it relies
upon expensive technology only rely available to the masses in MEDCs. As a result the effects of
Virtual volunteering do not extend out of MEDCs usually. However some MEDCs have parts that are
distinctly LEDC like and here is virtual volunteering is most effective like the lower Mississippi area in
the USA.
Micro: micro volunteering is done in small amounts of time and whilst alone useless together many
micro volunteering projects form something solid. Usually done for 5 minute instalments it is done
by many people. As a result it can affect many people anywhere and isn`t reliant upon technology
necessarily.
Environmental: Environmental volunteering is designed to help the environment and doesn’t
necessarily need skilled volunteers to volunteer. However this sort of volunteering needs skilled
volunteers such as vets as opposed to un-skilled volunteers. Also this sort of volunteering can cause a
lot of conflict especially when the volunteers are outsiders to an area that they are “trying to help”
and the local people do not want them there as it disrupts them.
There are many different types of voluntary work available to everyone. Each different type has its
own traits and specific with various common elements present between the different types of
volunteering. Which type of volunteering is best then? The answer would simply be dependent upon
the individual asked, however each type of volunteering can be scrutinised and reviewed as some are
very demanding and difficult where others are not.
Skill based: Skill based volunteering involves a skilled individual and more likely a very skilled
individual to do a very specific task, this will automatically reduce the number of people who can do
this type of volunteering meaning its very limited. On the other hand by having skilled individuals
and specifically skilled individuals doing a specific task this type of volunteering is very effective and
will achieve goals set. The downside though is that the volunteer work is long and can be as long as it
takes until goals are met. Skill based volunteering can be done anywhere in the world meaning that
anyone can benefit from it and everyone can be involved and LEDCs (less economically developed
countries) can offer something back to MEDCs (more economically developed countries). So in
conclusion skill based volunteering is limited in the number of people it can involve and can take a
long time, but it is effective, global in scope and provides help to MEDCs as well; as LEDCs.
Overseas: overseas volunteering can involve anyone but often the objective of volunteering will put
people off, or will require skilled individuals, however overseas volunteering is not limited. By having
anyone though the volunteering cannot be automatically effective and may just be a cheap solution
to a serious problem, however if overseas volunteers put a church up in the middle of Bolivian jungle
for local Christians then none of those Christians would say the voluntary work wasn`t effective. This
means how the overseas volunteers are used and what they do determines if there volunteering was
effective or not.
Virtual: Virtual volunteering has the potential to include anyone; however it relies upon very skilled
volunteers to give up their time. Virtual volunteering is also entirely dependent upon the use of
technology such as PDA`s and Smartphones in order to work. This means that whilst one skilled
volunteer could be affecting thousands of people those people would all have to have access to the
sort of technology that enables this. As such virtual volunteering cannot be used in LEDCs as it relies
upon expensive technology only rely available to the masses in MEDCs. As a result the effects of
Virtual volunteering do not extend out of MEDCs usually. However some MEDCs have parts that are
distinctly LEDC like and here is virtual volunteering is most effective like the lower Mississippi area in
the USA.
Micro: micro volunteering is done in small amounts of time and whilst alone useless together many
micro volunteering projects form something solid. Usually done for 5 minute instalments it is done
by many people. As a result it can affect many people anywhere and isn`t reliant upon technology
necessarily.
Environmental: Environmental volunteering is designed to help the environment and doesn’t
necessarily need skilled volunteers to volunteer. However this sort of volunteering needs skilled
volunteers such as vets as opposed to un-skilled volunteers. Also this sort of volunteering can cause a
lot of conflict especially when the volunteers are outsiders to an area that they are “trying to help”
and the local people do not want them there as it disrupts them.
