Youth voice – Volunteers are truly great

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr

Every day I get to work with great volunteers who come from all walks of life but all share the same big heart to serve and support our community in various ways. Whether it be giving their time to mentor a young person, cook at a community meal or handing out practical items to those in need. I am inspired by the people who humbly choose to devote their time to serving others. As Martin Luther King Jr says, this is what it means to be great. 

Often societal trends can place an emphasis on the greatness of self-indulgence rather than service. You only have to scroll through Facebook or Instagram to see that the most followed accounts are centred around luxurious experiences, consumeristic habits and superficial selfies. We also live in a time where there is a significant emphasis on self-care. Simple acts of self-care may involve grabbing a coffee, taking a bath or watching a movie to relax. These are all good things and it is so important that we learn to put boundaries in place to protect our wellbeing and give from a well-watered cup. However, under the influence of other social trends, sometimes those acts of self-care can instead become a long list of pleasure and self- indulgences. 

One of the five ways to wellbeing that the NZ Mental Health Foundation promotes is ‘giving’. Giving of your time to volunteering can enhance personal wellbeing, grow a sense of purpose and community belonging. I have seen time and time again how giving has stimulated joy and fulfilment. Whether it be a volunteer mentor who has loved the buzz of helping their young person grow in confidence, a community meal volunteer who has been able to build relationships with people from all walks of life or a volunteer who knows that their contribution is making life easier for someone else. 

The words of Martin Luther King Jr remind us that volunteering and service is not beyond anyone. It is an investment of time and energy that builds character and an outward focus that inspires a community committed to one another. From caring for a clean and healthy environment, supporting those struggling to make ends meet or investing time into building brighter futures, there is a space for everyone to volunteer their gifts, resources and passions to make a difference for others. 

So next time we scroll through Facebook or Instagram, and see thousands upon millions of social media users idolising luxury, consumerism and superficiality, we should not forget what it truly means to be great.