Volunteering, helping others or helping yourself?

Volunteering, we have all heard about it, an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial or social gain "to benefit another person, group or organization". But the reason for me writing this article comes from my own experience volunteering that reshaped the definition of the word for me and gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to volunteer.

GRATITUDE

A few months ago, I volunteered for Mary Joy Ethiopia on a Digital Marketing campaign here in Addis Ababa, Of course, there was no payment or any kind of benefit involved for me but I thought I could use my spare time to help them while looking for a job. A few weeks into the job, I saw people struggle in ways I couldn't even imagine, I witnessed grown men cry in front of me asking for help, I saw kids half my age carrying the responsibility of their entire family, I saw pregnant teens addicted to drugs with absolutely no support and the list goes on and on. It was then I thought, what the hell am I complaining about? What are my responsibilities? What are my struggles? And compared with what I was looking at, my problems, my pain, and my worries were worthless. That was the first step, Gratitude, I started to see and appreciate the things that I already had and took for granted. My family, my friends, my career, the small salary that I have, the running water that I have at home, the clean cloth I wear every day and everything I thought was normal for me was a gift to other people. And that was the first time I felt lucky about the problems that I had in my life and accepted my situation happily.

SATISFACTION

A few months into the job, we started to see the results of our work. Our campaign was taking off, we were getting noticed by people and getting offers everywhere. Elders were getting the support they needed, kids were receiving books and pencils to learn with, people donated anything they had from diapers to spare cloth and that wasn't even the best part. The best part was looking at the reaction of people being supported, the relief we saw on their faces, the smile the children gave us and the endless thank you's from the elderlies. And to think, we did that. To think, I was a part of this extraordinary activity of giving to people and making people happy was far more satisfying than any job I have ever done. That was the second step, Satisfaction, it was then I thought, I am so glad I did this, I am so glad I volunteered.

EMOTIONAL STRENGTH

The third and final step of this whole experience was Emotional Strength. Everything I witnessed and experienced gave me a sense of energy and hope. If people that are going through all this struggle are able to wake up every day and try to survive, what is holding me back to try harder? What is holding me back to do more? That was then I knew, you can learn more about the strength of a human being from someone who is struggling in life than someone who is successful.

After the campaign ended, we were getting some time off to reflect on the job and all the good we have done. But for me, what I have received felt far greater than what I have contributed to this campaign. That was then I asked my self, Volunteering, helping others or helping yourself? And I am sure you will have your own answer after reading this.