The popularity of youth volunteer work is on the rise and in the European Year of Volunteering, The Baltic Times is keen to highlight the benefits to both volunteers and host organisations.

The Baltic Times attributes the rising popularity to an increased ‘desire to change the environment around us’ and claims that volunteering activities help young adults to ‘acquire new abilities and talents’.

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) agrees, citing volunteer work as a key means for youths to ‘improve their personal, educational and professional development’. Lauma Briviba, chairwoman of Youth Against AIDS, is of the same opinion and describes volunteering as an ‘opportunity to grow’.

But what does it take to be a good volunteer? According to The Baltic Times, those who make the biggest impact are those ‘who are willing to work and… bring additional value to an organisation’s work.’ Commitment is crucial, so anyone ‘who considers volunteering as a comfortable vacation is wrong’.

Volunteers are expected to generate ideas, take responsibility and stimulate positive change. However, volunteering is always a mutually beneficial process. As the host organisation benefits from the extra manpower, the volunteer can grow as a person and develop new skills and understanding.

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