Volunteerism: A means to an end for Namibian youth

Volunteerism is the process of offering services to an institution without expectation of remuneration. A volunteer is a person who intentionally and willingly contributes to the cause of a community in need and the state at large. The history of volunteerism can be traced back in time to when young men volunteered to go to war to defend the sovereignty of their states and protect them against foes. It is a practice that is still used to this day. During Covid-19, we witnessed community leaders and retired medical professionals going back to work because they saw the necessity to offer their services in order to prevent the collapse of the Namibian health system.

It is in this vein that it is necessary to highlight some of the benefits brought by volunteerism, and how Namibian youth can become more engaged in this good cause.

In a country where a large number of youth find it hard to get jobs due to high unemployment in all sectors, it is imperative to change the strategy and find new ways to contribute to the realisation of their life goals. When a young graduate look at the statistics which indicate that almost 50% of the qualified young graduates are not able to secure an entry-level job in the public and private sector, the questions have to arise are: What can I do better? What should I can to have a competitive advantage? And how can I beat the best to be the one? All these questions can be answered by character development through volunteerism and gaining first-hand experience.

Volunteer Appreciation Day

On 5 December, the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) alumni chapter committee hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Day, in order to honour YALI alumni and Namibian volunteers in general who have done incredible job during the year. My takeaway from this initiative is that many successful young professionals are willing to offer their spare time to the improvement of vulnerable communities and to institutions in which their skills are required. Parallel to that, they gain personal fulfilment and are able to see the results of their services contribute to their personal growth and improve human relations. These young individuals have highlighted how they managed to make important connections, improve their communication skills and get appointed to regional and continental boards. These takeaways allowed me to ask why we don’t implant the spirit of volunteerism among all the energetic young men and women of our generation in order to learn new skills and build up their work profile.

Skills development

It is one thing to earn a master’s degree in your respective field and is another thing to perform to the best of your qualification in your respective field without practical knowledge. Furthermore, it is one thing to get a vocational diploma in and is a different thing to write a business plan or funding proposal for a project. Therefore, when an individual has decided to work for an organisation such as a civil society organisation, youth agency, business or government as a volunteer, they will be able to pick up skills which are not taught in college and they can use these skills effectively.

Things like practical data analysis, public speaking and presentation, communication, analytical writing and attention to detail are some of the important skills that can be learnt through volunteerism.

Challenges

Indeed, it is easy to speak and difficult to act based on the situations surrounding us. In a conversation with some of the volunteers, I realised that there is dishonour among the persons who work without being paid and some have envisioned of quitting offering services due to societal discouragement. Indeed, people will throw stones at you when you are doing something; however, it is up to you to decide whether to throw the stones back or use them to build your house. Some challenges are self-driven, rooted in the pride of acquiring a certain certificate, and the individual expects everything to be financially rewarding. With these challenges, you need to develop a strong mindset and have a thick skin if you want to move forward.

Be practical, patient and look at the bigger picture. You will be surprised how much you will gain from the experience.

Where and how?

As a youth leader, I realised that sometimes young people we think we know things, but our thoughts are limited by our little exposure of the world. Let us embrace the culture of asking the right questions. You can volunteer at organisations such as the Red Cross, United Nations, National Youth Council structures, and regional and local authorities’ projects. Universities, colleges, community libraries, etc. You can also apply to fellowships such YALI and the African Union Youth Volunteer programme. What is very interesting is that not all volunteers are unpaid - you will be surprised by the financial and non-financial benefits you will gain.

In the final analysis, there is much more you can do for your country than you can imagine. There are institutions somewhere in Namibia and in the world which require your services. Use this December to think about your journey next year and how you will be able to navigate life. Note that volunteerism is not only for the unemployed, but for people who want to change lives and improve their skills. Be strategic and never fall backward.

**David F Shoombe is a chapter coordinator for YALI in Namibia. He has keen interests in youth development and international relations. These are his personal views. Email him at [email protected].