The volunteer movement is a phenomenon that has the potential to change society for the better. Since ancient times, humanity, through its best representatives, has understood that altruism — that is, working for the benefit of others — is a manifestation of the best in human nature. Over the past few decades, volunteering has taken a leading role in the life of many countries. Enthusiastic volunteers perform many vital functions for society. These include firefighting and rescue services, organizing international sporting events, supporting immigrant resettlement, searching for missing people, and much more.
Volunteering has taken a leading role in Ukrainian society during the war. Our society has become a beneficiary of volunteer efforts both on the front lines and in the rear. For our military, as well as for displaced persons, and everyone who has directly experienced the war, the word “volunteer” has come to mean “savior,” “help,” or even “angel.”
The word “volunteer” itself comes from Latin, meaning an active and free expression of one’s own will. One cannot become a volunteer under coercion. Volunteering is always an expression of the desire to help others without expecting material reward.
The reward for a volunteer is the positive change that has taken place or is gradually occurring in someone’s life, in the life of society. The very process of working for the benefit of others brings satisfaction if the person approaches this process with the intentions they declare as a volunteer.
Unfortunately, not everyone who calls themselves a volunteer is one in essence. The fact is that this activity requires a certain level of emotional and intellectual maturity, personality development, consciousness, and worldview values that create an inner desire for altruistic actions. There are cases when people engage in volunteer activities expecting certain benefits, which they believe this activity might bring. Such benefits may include societal recognition, a “social elevator,” or material gain.
At the same time, volunteering truly enriches individuals, but this enrichment is not material. During their activities, volunteers gain new knowledge and skills, further develop their personalities, discover new horizons of self-awareness, and build quality relationships with like-minded people. All of this helps create and develop a high-quality life with a corresponding level of satisfaction.
The volunteers of the “Step with Hope” Foundation are a community of happy people who do many useful things for society. These include the distribution and delivery of humanitarian aid, organizing events that help people in front-line towns and villages survive physically. They also help with the aftermath of war (missile and drone strikes on residential buildings in Dnipro and other areas, eliminating the consequences of the artificial flood in Kherson, and more). If you ask any of our volunteers why they do what they do, they will most likely say they cannot imagine standing aside. It’s a need of the soul and heart!
This is a multifaceted activity that requires certain skills. The “Step with Hope” Foundation organizes and conducts training sessions aimed at improving the skills, knowledge, and abilities without which emotional burnout, trauma (physical or emotional), and other difficulties often occurring in crisis conditions can happen.
To prevent these difficulties, our organization regularly holds training sessions, involving specialists, on topics such as “Safe Volunteering,” “First Psychological Aid,” and “First Medical Aid.” We also regularly organize events aimed at emotional relief and support.
Volunteer activity changes society, and without volunteers, certain changes will never happen. You can observe the activities of volunteers and be a beneficiary of what they do. But, as the famous public figure Mahatma Gandhi once said, “If you want to see positive changes, become that change yourself!”
If you are someone who wants to be a volunteer, take the first step — register your interest, and we will be sure to contact you.