The Volunteer Circle's Impact Report Summary for 2023

In today's turbulent world, volunteers are the guardians of our humanity. They mend hearts, uphold values, and nurture morale, serving as beacons of compassion and examples of altruism. The Volunteer Circle began with a belief in liberating volunteering from traditional constraints, a belief that has blossomed into a thriving community of thousands.?

Seven years ago, you had to ask around for volunteer opportunities, and when you did find one, the role might have already been filled. It was discouraging to want to give back to the community but have very limited access to suitable opportunities. Today The Volunteer Circle fills in this gap by providing a unique online platform where dedicated volunteers are matched with the opportunity that needs them the most, in real-time. This year, we reached a total of 9,059 volunteers registered of which 53% were first-time volunteers. This confirms the positive impact The Volunteer Circle has on making volunteering more accessible therefore increasing community engagement and social capital.

How can we make community engagement more relevant to the shift in the world? How do we strengthen it at the scale of the digital age?

Impact on Volunteers:

Volunteering offers a wide range of benefits, nurturing both personal growth and community impact. Based on our volunteer evaluation survey, volunteering impacted well-being positively in 81.9% of participants. 79.8% reported contributing positively to their confidence and stress alleviation, and 83% experienced significant improvement in their personal development goals. Not only does volunteering enhance interpersonal skills and well-being, but it also positively impacts career growth and employability. 91% of the volunteers have gained soft skills that could land them a job easily, and 70.87% stated that volunteering has boosted their CVs and experience, and improved their employability. These data all indicate an advanced placement and better chances in the job market, however, how did these actually impact volunteers’ chances of being hired? Up until 2023, we have successfully placed 120 candidates from our volunteer community in job roles in sectors like Business Development, Data Analysis, Interior Design, Education, Finance, and Others. findings highlight the importance of encouraging volunteerism, making it more accessible, and raising awareness about its benefits.

Impact of Volunteers:

Volunteering not only impacts individuals but also extends to the communities and the country as a whole. In 2023 alone, our efforts resulted in saving? 16,234$ for local communities, redirecting financial resources to accomplish organizational goals more efficiently. Beyond financial contributions, volunteers made a tangible impact by touching 35,620 lives, preserving 342 trees, and touching the lives of 30 differently abled individuals. In collaboration with Embrace, volunteers supported 324 hotline calls, each representing a life potentially saved. Their dedication not only touches the hearts of those in need but also serves as a source of hope in times of distress. This shows the profound, mutually beneficial relationship between volunteers and the community, where both sides gain and grow together.?

Sectors Covered:

The Volunteer Circle offers the chance for volunteers to contribute to their preferred sectors. In 2023, we covered 11 different sectors including environment & nature conservation, arts, sports, culture, research, livelihoods, education, health, human rights, food security, and animal welfare.

New Partnerships Established:

Solutions:

In a region marked by instability and economic turbulence, the need for support is dire. Rising unemployment, decreasing resources, and declining services strain communities leaving vulnerable populations even more exposed. The Volunteer Circle aims to address these pressing needs, providing a lifeline for individuals and communities facing hardship in the MENA region. These services offer tech-powered solutions that have proven to be impactful, transforming how the community addresses challenges:

1. Volunteer Matching: Through the Volunteer Matching service, aimed for organizations to access a community of dedicated volunteers on demand, The Volunteer Circle was yet again able to continue its mission in 2023 and work towards creating an environment where volunteering is accessible, meaningful, and impactful.?
2. Volunteer Leadership Masterclass: Building on this success, this year we re-launched The Volunteer Masterclass based on the experience of more than 300 partner organizations and accredited theory. This online, easily accessible course builds up the capacity of organizations to attract and retain top talents.
3. Job Matching - The Career Circle: Due to the rich database of volunteers with excellent skills and dedication, many organizations reached out to hire talent in their relevant fields. This inspired us to create a new platform of job matching, The Career Circle, to satisfy one of the most sought-after benefits of volunteering: landing new job opportunities.
4. White labeling: We offer the latest technology that has the flexibility and feature-rich environment needed to make an impact under your brand name. If you are a governmental agency, company, or program developer, in need of a readily available marketplace, you can easily benefit from The Volunteer Circle’s platform, which matches supply and demand, while being tailored to your needs.
5. Volunteer Advisory service: We provide personalized volunteer consultancy services for organizations through tailored strategies, in topics like Volunteer Management, Impact Measurement, Community Building, and much more.
6. The Volunteer Circle Research Initiative: 2023 was the year we launched our research journey that aims to fill a gap in data and research done on volunteering. We started this journey by publishing the chapter “Volunteering: The New Wealth of Students” in the book “Revitalizing the Learning Ecosystem for Modern Students” where we shed light on the influence of volunteering both on one’s self and the community.?

Our annual impact report features detailed descriptions created for YOU to explore how you can benefit from these services while also making a positive impact on the community.

Outlook on the future:

As we continue to grow and evolve, we commit to making volunteering an accessible, impactful, and inclusive experience by providing value to all our stakeholders. We give you a volunteer-based tool to solve any challenge that might arise. Thus, our question for you is: how can we join forces to support you in using these tailored resources to achieve your goals?

There has never been a better time to be loud in our compassion and service.

Acknowledgment:

We would like to truly thank our partners for their contributions in facilitating our journey and making our year full of accomplishments possible:

• Salem Group
• Al Fanar
• Asfari Foundation
• Makesense

We would also like to acknowledge and thank our Honorary Board Members for their commitment, expertise, and precious strategic input.

Written by Farah Salma and Sarkis Kerkemezian .