Two important lessons a week / Article / LSM.lv

I once read that a study in Australia found that people who volunteer at least two hours a week feel happier. Why exactly two hours a week? That’s about 100 hours a year. Helping others without waiting for pay, building self-confidence and increasing joy. In addition, strengthening democracy and the local community. Today, December 5, the world celebrates International Volunteer Day.

Many years ago, together with Valdis Melder, I hosted a public event. After a while, the organizers called me to announce that I would double my fee, because Valdis Melderis had decided to run it voluntarily. Embarrassed, however, I found out that he does it regularly so as not to lose the joy of work and that doing it makes sense, not out of duty. This vision of the world seemed appealing, as it seemed that at that time the principle of volunteering was mostly followed by those who came from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or charities.

I remember that in 2003, together with three other young people in the kitchen of the Latvian Youth Council, we gave an interview to a youth magazine about volunteering for children’s and youth NGOs. All these concepts were new and explanatory. For instance,

In 10th grade, the teacher regularly rebuked me that volunteering and NGOs were a waste of time. It was hard to tell that I spent valuable time after hours.

Now, 17 years later, reading this interview, I realize that a much wider range of people know what volunteering is.

In 2006, a NATO summit was held in Latvia, in which volunteers were invited to apply for an extensive campaign. This event allowed the Latvian society to look at it in a more versatile way and appreciate that volunteering is not only helping someone else, but also gaining experience, learning and growth for oneself.

In 2008, the XXIV General Latvian Song and XIV Dance Festival invited a large number of volunteers to apply to help implement the festival week together with the organizers of the festival. Many understood that joint volunteering creates a holiday not only for others, but also allows them to rejoice and participate in the preservation of their national heritage and values. To be involved in the creation of a significant cultural event. Since the NATO Summit and the Song Festival, the concept of volunteering has become more understandable and popular, but has increasingly been seen as a short-term campaign-like process.

After joining the European Union, Latvia introduced various European volunteering opportunities, which allowed not only young people to travel to one country free of charge, but also to experience what daily volunteering in another country means. In 2013, I myself had the opportunity to volunteer for eight months on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia as part of such a program. The experience gained, friendships, getting to know a completely different culture, religion and language, was an invaluable experience. Later, I prepared stories about other volunteer youth in Europe for Latvian Television programs. Most interviews acknowledged that such work not only provides a helping hand to society, but even more so to themselves. I remember the Italian guy Dario replied that in this busy world it is refreshing to do something good for a moment, without personal calculation.

Since 2016, Latvia has had the Law on Volunteering, which stipulates that volunteering can be organized by associations and foundations, including trade unions and their associations, state and local government institutions, as well as political parties and their associations. It also defines the responsibilities between the volunteer and the work organizer. Today, compared to the time when we explained what volunteering is 17 years ago, there has been a drastic change. Although still – compared to the USA and the European Union – a very small number of people do permanent volunteering in Latvia, today volunteering is valued by employers and can even be recognized for it.

This year, the Latvian Central Organization of Scouts and Guides, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its renewal, created a 30-second video in which scouts and waiters tell about their volunteer work, dreaming of what Latvia would be like if everyone devoted at least two hours a week to volunteering.

They do all kinds of work: take care of animals, teach Frisbee, take care of folk costumes, go hiking in nature, develop the business environment, teach sailing, etc. The Scout and Waiting Movement has around 100 volunteer scout and waiting leaders who spend an average of 5-10 hours a week volunteering. They plan and lead youth work in local communities – leading classes, hiking, camps, training and other educational activities for children and young people.

I would like more people to be involved in volunteering all the time, helping self-help organizations, projects and processes. Perhaps this strange and difficult year will allow you to think about what initiative or event you would like to support or create in order to make yourself 100 hours happier a year.

And a special greeting today to all those who have ever volunteered!

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