Tapping the vast pool of talented youth in India to take up pro-bono or paid volunteering projects for social cause.

Abstract

Volunteering is not new to the Indian community. In fact, India had a proud past in volunteerism. Mahatma Gandhi said “best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” However, we believe the spirit of volunteerism has been declining in the country. Volunteering benefits various stakeholders. It is a great learning opportunity for the youth and a valuable resource for NGOs. Volunteers can understand the various avenues in the social sector by doing hands-on work on real life problems. They will also get a chance to broaden their horizon at a young age and also contribute to the society. From the perspective of NGOs, it’s a highly beneficial resource in terms of time, money and flexibility. NGOs can get short-term projects done by volunteers cost effectively and also spread their vision through a larger set of people for larger impact. Volunteers will also bring in fresh ideas and energy to NGOs. For government, volunteering programs can be a great way of skill building for the nation. India being a developing country with huge population can make use of volunteerism to play a critical role in ensuring that communities improve continuously.