Guest Post by Deborah Attewell (a virtual volunteer)
We now live in a world where we are more connected than ever before. The internet has created a global community and it has revolutionized the way we view and live our lives. One of the greatest aspects that has come from the online world is virtual volunteering. It has become increasingly difficult to find free time in our hectic schedules. Those moments when we do have time seem to come at odd hours midday or perhaps late at night. Volunteering can sometimes mean scheduling an event months in advanced. In addition, there may not be any opportunities in your neighborhood factoring in more planning for travel time. As a virtual volunteer, however, you have the ability to work during those odd hours of free time from the comfort of your home. It also allows you to utilize skills that you possess that are most needed by an organization either in your region or across the world.
What is virtual volunteering?
Virtual volunteering is like any other volunteer position. You have a volunteer coordinator that acts as the liaison between you and the organization you are working with. In some cases there is training involved depending on the position. However all of this takes place over your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The different responsibilities of a volunteer can be stretched as far as the imagination can go. Depending on what the organization needs and your skill set there are a number of different options. The following is a list of some of the ways you can help out virtually
- Write blog stories, press releases, grant proposals
- Proofread, translate, or consultation
- Research
- Volunteer Recruitment/Management
- Social media (ie: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, etc)
- Website design/creation, data entry
- Curriculum design/development, tutoring and mentoring
In addition to the vast amount of positions, virtual volunteering allows you to reach out to organizations that are not in your immediate area giving you the ability to help out both locally and globally. In larger organizations, you will work with the collection of other virtual volunteers scattered across the globe. Other times you will work one-on-one with the head of the department you are volunteering for.
Remote volunteering at Asante Africa. How does it works for us?
Asante Africa Foundation relies significantly on volunteers and interns, We are a small but global minded organization and welcome volunteers to our team from anywhere in the world. Look at our map of volunteers and interns, you will see that we have people from all over the world: Montana, Texas, Virginia and in other countries, like the UK and South Korea.
As a volunteer at Asante Africa Foundation, we want to nurture skills and interests while you help make a difference. Volunteering can allow you to tailor your hours and your capabilities while honing and refining new skills. With virtual volunteers, we utilize online technology like Skype, GoToMeeting, MS Office, Google Docs, and/or Adobe CS for graphic and web designers. Email and phones are key as well.
How to become a virtual volunteer and work from home
There are a number of different ways to find virtual volunteer positions.
- Google search
- Browse volunteer databases such as idealist.org, volunteermatch.org, onlinevolunteering.org, and internships.com
- Contact a non-profit that interests you to see if they have online opportunities available
- Talk to family, friends and colleagues
This summer, make it a good one and get involved!!