2014-05-21

Value of Volunteering

For a short time I have been signed to volunteer helping teens(12-17 years) with risk of social exclusion in their homework. It is a Centro closely my home which receive teens directly from Social Services and I didn't really know it. I offered selfless my help, I approached and  told me that needed a lot of help. Ok, I decided to start. I was there a hour and a half which felt that went very fast. I was helping two girls by sitting down and talking to them.
What was the result? when I came out from there I was happy, feeling me very useful and I pondered about life and I thought: "if the world realize that if we help each other we would be happier, the world would change right now" however this is not the general idea. On the other hand, I even also thought volunteering could be a good therapy for sadness because you give and receive affection from some people closest. In fact,  teens with risk of social exclusion are normally lacking afection, so in the other words, they would look forward to receive love to give it. Is not it what a sad person needs?

3 comments:

  1. For a short time I have been signed UP to volunteer helping teens (12-17 years) AT risk of social exclusion(1) WITH their homework. It is a CENTER closE TO my home which receiveS teens directly from Social Services and I didn't really know MUCH ABOUT it. I offered my help SELFLESSLY, I approached THEM and THEY told me that THEY needed a lot of help. Ok, I decided to start. I was there aN hour and a half which [] went very fast. I was helping two girls by sitting down and talking to them.

    What was the result? when I came out from there I was happy, feeling [] very useful and I pondered about life and I thought: "if the world WOULD realize that if we help each other we would be happier, the world would change right now" however this is not the general idea. On the other hand(2), I even also thought volunteering could be a good therapy for sadness because you give and receive affection from [] people []. In fact, teens AT risk of social exclusion are normally lacking afection, so in [] other words, they would look forward to receive love to give it. Is not THIS what a sad person needs?

    (1) The phrase "at risk of social exclusion" is odd to me. Why would they be excluded?
    (2) I think "moreover" or "an addition" would be better here, because your second point is not a contrast to the first.

    I couldn't agree with you more. I have been involved in several volunteer activities over the years, and I always get more out of it than I put in. It's great to get one's focus off oneself for a while. And I do think it's a good remedy for sadness, loneliness, etc.

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  2. I like "to get one's focus off oneself"= lograr el enfoque de uno mismo(I think).
    (1) Actually it is a formal way to say: poor people = marginalized people = social excluded. Personas en riesgo de exclusion social = Personas en riesgo de marginalidad o pobreza. it sounds worthily in Spanish, probably it doesn't in English.

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  3. I'm not sure about "lograr el enfoque de uno mismo". How about "enfocarse fuera de si mismo"?

    "At-risk teens" is a common expression. We don't say what the risks are, but it is understood as lack of education and employment, involvement with drugs and crime, premature parenthood, etc. -- all things that lead to being marginalized/excluded from mainstream society.

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