Volunteer Orientation: Be a Great Volunteer Anywhere

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Volunteer Orientation Be a Great Volunteer
Anywhere
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• Never doubt that a small group of committed
  citizens can change the world for, indeed, that
  is the only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead

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So You Want to Volunteer!

• How you start well?
• How can you be a great volunteer?
• How do you relate cross-culturally?

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Summary
1. Start Well
2. Consider Your Approach
3. Cross-Cultural Ministry
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Step 1Start Well
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The Beginning

• So youve decided to start volunteering
  somewhere. What do you do now?
• Pray.
• Get training.
• Ask your supervisor questions.
• Care about relationships.

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Pray

• For guidance in your service.
• For the organization you will be working with and
  all people involved.
• For the community you will be serving in.

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Training

• There may or may not be a formal orientation and
  training.
• If there is no orientation, dont be afraid to
  ask questions. Try to arrange a time when you can
  talk with your supervisor.
• It will make a difference if you understand how
  your efforts fit into the mission of the overall
  agency or organization. 

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Training

• Train yourself.
• See our list of recommended resources (Appendix)
• Find out if the organization requires / suggests
  formal training
• If there is no formal training, ask your
  supervisor for suggested materials and trainings

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Things to Discuss With Your Supervisor

• Find out who is your supervisor / go-to person.
• If possible establish a regular schedule for
  volunteering regular days and times.
• Find out what is expected of you talk about
  your job description and other expectations.
• Establish who you should go to for help.
• Ask what you should do if youll be late.
• What is the time period Im committing for?
• At what point can I decide to recommit or
  transition out?

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Things to Discuss With Your Supervisor

• Make sure to trade contact information.
• Ask about rules especially those involving how
  to interact with other staff and those youre
  serving.
• Ask what makes a good volunteer.
• Ask about appropriate clothing.

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Things to Discuss With Your Supervisor

• Ask about sign in/ time tracking procedures.
• Find out who you should talk to when you arrive
  and leave.
• Find out if there are any meetings or special
  events that you should attend.
• Read any available applicable personnel policies
  or volunteer rules.

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Other Tips

• Establish a regular schedule for volunteering.
• If you will be late or absent, call ahead.
• Do you what you said you would do.
• People are counting on you!
• Be clear on what is your responsibility.
• If you need training or have questions, ask.
• Many norms or rules in the organizational culture
  will be unstated. When in doubt, ask.

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Care About Relationships

• If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender
  my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain
  nothing. Corinthians 133 (NIV)
• Remember that no matter what the task, you are
  working with and for people.
• Put others as your highest task.

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Care About Relationships

• Youll probably be interacting with other staff,
  volunteers, and participants.
• Care for and respect those around you.
• Be ready to learn from others. Dont start off
  trying to change things.
• Find out how people address each other (first
  names, Sis / Bro, Pastor, Mr./Ms.). Dont assume.
  
• Be cooperative. Dont try to do things your own
  way.

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Outside Your Volunteering

• Spread the word about the organization and its
  mission. Be a good ambassador. This will be one
  of the best ways you can support!
• Consider donating financially - Donations of
  inkind items and services may also be
  appreciated. 

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Step 2Consider Your Approach
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Approach
FAT

• Whatever you do, stay
• Faithful.
• available.
• Teachable.

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Faithful

• Keep your commitments.
• Dont think of yourself as just a volunteer.
  People are depending on you!
• If you need to miss a session or will be late,
  call.

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Faithful

• Know Your Limitations.
• Over-commitment often leads to bailing out or
  cancellations.
• Try not to let yourself get burnt out.
• learn to say no when you are doing too much or
  feeling resentful.

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Available

• To do whats needed.
• Expect to sacrifice.

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Teachable

• Dont assume that you know what people (staff,
  clients, the community) need . Ask!
• Dont assume that you know the best way to be
  helpful. Ask!
• Be flexible.
• Remember you are a volunteer and may not be in a
  position to make big changes.

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Finish Well

• When the time for volunteering is ending, make
  sure that its clear to everyone involved with
  your last time volunteering will be.
• Celebrate all that has been accomplished while
  youve volunteered!

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Step 3Cross-Cultural Ministry
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A Biblical Perspective

• If youre entering a cross-cultural setting,
  approach it as you would approach entering
  another country.
• The following verses might be helpful in thinking
  about this.

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I Corinthians 919-23

• Though I am free and belong to no man, I make
  myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as
  possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win
  the Jews. To those under the law I became like
  one under the law (though I myself am not under
  the law), so as to win those under the law. To
  those not having the law I became like one not
  having the law (though I am not free from God's
  law but am under Christ's law), so as to win
  those not having the law. To the weak I became
  weak, to win the weak. I have become all things
  to all men so that by all possible means I might
  save some. I do all this for the sake of the
  gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

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Romans 1413-21

•  Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one
  another. Instead, make up your mind not to put
  any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's
  way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully
  convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But
  if anyone regards something as unclean, then for
  him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed
  because of what you eat, you are no longer acting
  in love. Do not by your eating destroy your
  brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what
  you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For
  the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and
  drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in
  the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ
  in this way is pleasing to God and approved by
  men.

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Romans 1413-21(cont.)

• Let us therefore make every effort to do what
  leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not
  destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All
  food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat
  anything that causes someone else to stumble. It
  is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
  anything else that will cause your brother to
  fall.

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Adjust to Meet the Culture

• For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
  and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy
  in the Holy Spirit.
• Expect that a different culture will follow a
  different set of rules than you do. Expect that
  and try to adjust to accommodate their culture.
• Actively seek to learn from others.

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• Be open-minded. One of the really great things
  about being a volunteer is the chance to learn
  and experience new things. Keep your mind open to
  new possibilities, and youll probably grow as a
  person.
• Be respectful. Always remember to show respect
  for other people and other cultures. Keep in mind
  that your way of thinking or living is not the
  only way there is.

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Common Cross-Cultural Issues

• Need for order vs. Spontaneity
• Efficiency vs. Relational
• Egalitarianism vs. Respect for authority
• Reserved/indirect vs. Intense directness
• Introverted vs. Extroverted
• Resources vs. Underresourced
• Trauma is avoided vs. Trauma is common

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Find Cross-Cultural Mentors

• Advantages of mentors from your cultural
  background
• This person can be a bridge to the culture for
  you.
• Get advice on relating to the culture from a
  familiar perspective.
• Bring them frustrations or questions that you
  have.
• Advantages of mentors from the culture youre
  serving
• Get advice on relating to the culture from an
  insiders perspective.
• Bring them questions that you have.
• Both of these are necessary.

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Last Thoughts

• Be enthusiastic. Have fun!
• Put relationships first.
• Remember why youre volunteering.

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Benefits of Volunteering

• Make a positive difference in your community.
• Learn new skills.
• Improve your health.
• Create more fun in your life.
• Meet people with similar interests.
• Share your skills and life experiences.
• Meet people you wouldnt have otherwise.
• In one survey 28 of unemployed volunteers (and
  16 of employed volunteers) said that their
  volunteering had helped them obtain a job in the
  past (www.givingandvolunteering.ca/pdf/factsheets/
  Benefits_of_Volunteering.pdf ).

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Summary

• Start with training and clear communication.
• Stay FAT.
• Consider cross-cultural ministry.
• Put relationships first.

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Appendix Recommended Books

• Being Latino in Christ Orlando Crespo
• Being White Paula Harris and Doug Schaupp
• Divided by Faith Michael O. Emerson and Christian
  Smith
• Free at Last Carl Ellis
• Invitation to Lead Paul Tokunaga
• More Than Equals Spencer Perkins and Chris Rice
• Peoples History of the United States Howard Zinn
• Restoring At-Risk Communities John Perkins
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in
  the Cafeteria? Beverly Daniel Tatum

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Appendix Urbanministry.org

• UrbanMinistry.org contains a wealth of
  information.
• Click here for talks on Youth ministry.
• Click here for Poverty 101.
• Click here for Tech in Urban Ministry 101.
• Go to www.urbanministry.org for more.