There are many answers to the question as to why volunteering is important. Even though it’s not something you’ll get paid for, the benefits are actually greater than money.

To Improve Community Life

One good reason is that it goes a long way towards creating a healthy community. Kids who agree to take part in tidying up their classrooms and surrounding areas promote cleanliness. This in turn helps the community as the act removes pollution and thrash. It encourages others to do the same thing. In the end, everyone benefits from it.

This isn’t just limited to cleaning the environment of course. Those who willingly take part in tree planting, animal caring etc also contribute to the betterment of society.

To Give Back

Another reason why volunteering is important is it showcases someone’s gratitude. Someone who becomes successful in selling books may take part in a reading for children program. An athlete can spend some time in teaching others the basics of his / her sport. A successful entrepreneur can allocate some time to teaching others how to do business.

To Help Others in Need

During times of calamities, people need help. There are government agencies assigned to this task. However, it’s usually not enough. When ordinary people do their part to help, the task of aiding the grief stricken becomes easier.

This isn’t just true among the calamity stricken. There are people living in harsh conditions that need a helping hand. That’s why volunteering is important; you can reach out to others. There will be no financial rewards. But the joy you can bring to others will be priceless.

Things are Done More Effectively

When people get together, the job or assignment becomes easier to do. It doesn’t matter what the job at hand is. When individuals work together, most of the difficulties will be erased. Without any help, work becomes harder.

You Get Connected to Other People

When you take part in these activities, you get closer to people. You come to know your friends even more. You’ll make new acquaintances too. By getting more involved with other people, self confidence increases.

Giving Hope

One reason why volunteering is important is that you give others hope. A downtrodden person will be uplifted when he or she realizes that there are people out there who will help them out. It brings back their faith. It makes them aware that not everything is about money.

It Emboldens the Human Spirit

The selfless act of helping a person / cause / nature provides a spiritual boost as well. Knowing you did something good brings an emotional uplifting that can never be matched by money or fame. It’s not a glamorous job, but most who have tried it will tell you that the experience is a positive one.

These are just some of the reasons why volunteering is important. Not only does it bring hope and happiness to people, but it leads to spiritual and emotional growth too. It is an experience that cannot be bought.

For someone who doesn’t do it, trying to understand why people volunteer can be difficult. This becomes even more so when the task is dangerous. But there are several motives that can be used to explain this.

Belief in the Cause

Whenever there have been wars, there have been those who made the decision to join the battle. For these individuals, it’s all about fighting for what they believe is right. It’s not that they’re unaware of the dangers, but it’s something they’re willing to go through. For many, the consequences of not joining will be much worse.

During World War I, thousands of Europeans joined on their own volition. That scene is repeated throughout history when wars are fought. For several individuals, the answer to why people volunteer is all about belief in the cause. It is something that is worth fighting for.

Thinking of the Future

For some, it’s all about the future. An example would be those that join environmental groups. These involve a lot of work, from cleaning out trash to taking care of endangered animals. These also include attending hearings and rallies. While some view these as thankless tasks, these people are thinking of the future. What they’re doing is to preserve the present so there will be a future.

This viewpoint isn’t just limited to environmentalists of course. People who safeguard monuments and national treasures are thinking of the same thing. They want to conserve the present so future generations may live in a better place.

Kindness

Simple kindness is another factor as to why people volunteer. When calamity strikes, we see men and women offering their services to help others. We see them helping total strangers who become trapped when earthquakes or hurricanes strike. For most, it’s simply a matter of doing the right thing. They do it because it is the proper thing to do. They don’t do it to get rewards or recognition.

Giving Back to People

An individual who becomes financially successful might feel the need to give some of the fortune back. Helping out is one way to do it. For these people, it’s not just another way to gain fame or earn more money. It is their way of expressing gratitude towards the others. When asked why people volunteer, gratitude and giving back may be the answer.

Growth of the Individual

A sense of achievement is another basis. Whether it’s reading to small children or helping build homes for the poor, the activity can bring a sense of fulfillment. Some also feel that is a way for them to grow emotionally and spiritually.

Other Benefits

Aside from helping others, the act also brings other advantages. It helps a person learn more about himself / herself. New skills can be acquired. The ability to communicate and reach out to others is improved. Joining in these activities can help one overcome personal hurdles. A sense of responsibility is also developed.

For many though, asking why people volunteer is no longer that important. What matters is the act itself and how it helps people or a cause.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores…” These sympathetic words incribed on a bronze plaque in the interior of the pedestal of the statue of Liberty seem to escape from the silent lips of Lady Liberty herself and whispered into the ears of waves of immigrants from the Old World as they sailed past her upon their arrival at New York Harbor.

Historically, America is a nation that was built by immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin American countries. Immigrants came to escape religious persecution or famine in their own countries or to look for better opportunities hoping to make some money to send back home to their families. And, quite a number came for adventure. The predominantly Roman Catholic Irish, for instance, came to escape reliqious persecution of the church of England and the Great Famine of 1845-1850.

While escape from poverty was also one of the compelling reasons why Mexican immigrants came to America, many came to be reunited with their families driven with the desire to live and work in a country that had been historically and culturally attached to their native land. In the years prior to 1845, the present-day states of Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico were all part of the sovereign country of Mexico.

Texas gained independence from Mexico following the defeat of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to the the Texan forces of Sam Houston’s at the Battle of San Jacinto. However, when the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States, the Mexican American War erupted. Following several bitter battles between the two forces, American soldiers occupied Mexico City. Outnumbered militarily with many of its major cities occupied by the Americans, Mexico entered into the Treat of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848. Part of the terms of the treaty was the so-called Great Cession, which resulted in Mexico’s loss of more than 500,000 square miles of its territory to the United States.

The annexed territories contained thousands of Mexican families who were given the choice to become US citizens by the American government. Many of these families moved farther south in Mexico, but a lot more opted to stay. Many Mexican immigrants came to America to reunite with kin who chose to stay in the United States. In modern times, many Mexican immigrants came to America to work in canning factories in labor-starved border cities. In fact, most of these Mexican immigrants were recruited by canning factories who found it more lucrative to hire low cost migrant labor.

To keep youths way from trouble, it’s important to know why children join gangs in the first place. Unless you know the facts, preventing it from happening can be very difficult.

Protection

Some kids join these groups because it gives them shelter and protection. If they are living in a place where violence is a daily occurrence, they’ll think that joining these groups will be the solution.

The threat can also come from other groups. Often, youths may feel they can’t just stand aside and be neutral. Because they’re afraid that they might be victimized, they choose to take sides. Unfortunately this often leads to more trouble instead.

Trying to Fit in

Another reason why children join gangs is to be cool with their friends. What happens is that they have a friend who is part of the group. In turn the child is persuaded to join them. This is one reason why it happens a lot. Even at a young age, they need to feel that they belong to a crowd. To fulfill that void, they join these groups.

A Sense of Adventure

When young people think of these groups, they imagine all sorts of thrilling activities. They know the risks involved, but that itself becomes part of the attraction. Usually, the sense of action and adventure outweigh any of the other consequences.

Making Easy Money

The lure of money is another reason why children join gangs. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of these groups. Younger kids may unwillingly deliver packages containing drugs or illegal merchandise. Even older kids who know the risks might be tempted to do it because of the cash involved.

Being Part of a Family

Kids who join these groups often come from dysfunctional families. Unable to get love and caring from their parents, they turn to other people. Their emotional state makes them easy targets for these groups. Nowadays, even pre teens are being enticed to join.

Having an Identity

Teenagers are in the process of developing their own personal life. As such they can be vulnerable to these groups. These clans can offer the teen a sense of purpose, belonging and way of life. This is one more reason why children join gangs. If the teenager’s family life is dysfunctional, the temptation to join will be strong.

Prevention

The first step is to make sure the living environment is safe. This refers both to home and school. It’s crucial that parents, teachers and law enforcers take the right steps to dismantle these groups.

Another thing you can do is keep the kids busy. Enroll them in sports clubs and other workshops. Above all, spend time with them. It’s not enough to just give them a video game or PC. Talk with them. You need to know how they feel. If you treat them like friends, they’ll open up to you.

Learning why children join gangs is just one step. Once you know the cause, you should take the right steps to ascertain it doesn’t take place.