5 Best Things About Volunteering

EVENT / TEAMDARE

TEXT JASMIN SEPPÄLÄ

“Working without getting paid - why would you do that?!” was a question that was asked from me frequently  last fall. Why would anybody spend their free time like that? Let me explain you.

1. Being part of a (not-so-ordinary) team

At first, the thing I like the most about Dare to Learn is that it is a growing community of passionate people. The core of the Team Dare lies in the idea that we create and shape such tasks that people enjoy doing. It is essential that everyone gets to do things that really motivate and interest them. 

Secondly, while we challenge both ourselves and others, we aim to create experience of success: tasks must be measured so that everyone has enough time and tools to implement it. 

Third, things are done together. There is always somebody to ask help from and juggle with ideas.

"The thing I like the most about Dare to Learn is that it is a growing community of passionate people."

PHOTO: Oona Pohjalainen

2.  Learning

From my perspective volunteering is learning as its best: as a volunteer I have got to put my hands into the dirt and challenge my know-how. The chance to apply the theories and knowledge learned in school into practice is valuable after studying only two years – a possibility that in many cases opens up not until after graduating from university.

During this spring I’ve found myself for example leading a group, motivating and committing people and organizing an miniature event. I’ve felt that when something is exciting me within Dare, the doors are open. And, a community of people of different backgrounds and interests makes the communication instructive itself. 

In addition, the art of using Slack has been a learning path, ha! It took a while to but now I strongly have a feeling that it actually works.

"The chance to apply the theories and knowledge learned in school into practice is valuable"

PHOTO: Saara Pörsti

3. A sense of capability

When people are given the opportunity to act and implement themselves, the outcome turns out the best way and successes increase the feeling of being capable. According to researches, internal motivation is the best driving factor because it makes the action rewarding itself.

​As a Head of Community I get to recruit, orientate, commit, train and motivate 150 volunteers. Not all of the people at the age of 23 can say that they have done the same, right?!

PHOTO: Saara Pörsti

4. Doing things that matter

During the winter Dare to Learn called for team members, and in the interview, I basically promised to do almost anything – just pick me, please!  Soon I found myself volunteering as a campaign coordinator. In the role I got to arrange and organize MiniDare-event that gave us a good foretaste about the autumn’s main event.  Even though there was a lot of work, and at times I needed an extra amount of coffee – I was doing these things because I really wanted to.

Dare to Learn is important for me because its’ values and social purposes are in line with my own interests: Dare is an advocate of lifelong learning as a lifestyle and as well helps Finland to take its well deserved place as an worlds “learning center”  without forgetting our deeper meaning: everybody has a right for quality learning and our role is to help in making it possible.

5. Fun!

Working in an enthusiastic atmosphere with inventive people - doesn’t get much better than that! (And you should really see us in the break room.)

​"​Dare to Learn is important for me because its’ values and social purposes are in line with my own interests."

PHOTO: Oona Pohjalainen

Join us!

So, why wait any longer?

You don’t have to be “ready” to join us – motivation is enough! We have space both for dreamers and doers, newcomers and experts, developers and learners. We have a wide range of people in different fields: pedagogy-, communications-, marketing-, and industrial management-, general and adult education-, social psychology students, not to mention entrepreneurs or PhD students who volunteer alongside working.

Learning really touches everyone and therefore your background doesn’t matter. Apply for the open positions or create your own, we are open for new ideas!

To apply click here.

Jasmin Seppälä