Volunteering
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering is giving your time, energy and experience to help others and to contribute to society. You can also meet new people, develop new skills, share your talents and knowledge, support a cause and help others! Volunteering opportunities can be short term (special one-time events or a few days) or a regular commitment (weekly or monthly).
Career building benefits:
· Volunteering gives you a chance to explore different occupations and to meet the people, challenges and rewards they involve.
· Get a feel for an occupation or workplace, the 'language' and the expectations involved
· Meet people and develop friendships
· Networking: Make connections that may help you build your career or get work
· Learn new skills and use the skills you already have
· Gain experience to build your resume
· Get to know yourself and your potential
Things to think about:
· How much time do I want to commit to?
· What type of activities will I enjoy?
· What would match my personality style, values, skills and abilities?
· Will I feel comfortable and safe in the environment?
Where to start:
· Community Groups, Agencies or Organizations in your neighbourhood
· Religious Organizations, Clubs, Schools & Educational Institutions
· Online Search - use key words such as “volunteer” and “youth”
· Start a volunteer project of your own – Be creative!
· Use your network of friends & family
Local Volunteer Centers:
Volunteer Calgary www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca
· Searchable Database - an online tool that allows you to search by area of interest or by specific organization.
· Specific Youth Volunteering section with projects, facts & statistics and articles related to Youth Volunteerism.
Child & Youth Friendly Calgary www.cyfc.ca
· “The Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) program offers young people an opportunity to engage in volunteer projects. With over 130 non-profit agencies requesting the support of youth volunteers, the opportunities are endless. Opportunities include regular commitments, special events or one-time projects, ongoing and week long projects.”
For more information on the benefits of volunteering visit Ms. Lund in the Career Centre
or visit CBE Career Services Online at http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/cs/explore_index.asp
Adapted from CBE: Career Services Online
Volunteering Opportunities for Youth:
Aspen Family and Community Network / www.aspenfamily.org
Bethany Care Society / www.bethanycare.com
Between Friends Club / www.betweenfriends.ab.ca
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society / www.ccis-calgary.ab.ca
Calgary Health Region / www.calgaryhealthregion.ca
Calgary Humane Society / www.calgaryhumane.ca
Calgary Interfaith Food Bank / www.calgaryfoodbank.com
Calgary International Children's Festival / www.calgarychildfest.org
Calgary John Howard Society / www.johnhoward.calgary.ab.ca
Calgary Philharmonic Society / www.cpo-live.com
Calgary Public Library / www.calgarypubliclibrary.com
Calgary Urban Vibe / www.calgaryurbanvibe.ca
Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society / www.calgarywildlife.org
Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing / www.cadscalgary.ca
Canadian Blood Services / www.bloodservices.ca
Canadian Cancer Society / www.cancer.ca
Canadian Diabetes Association / www.diabetes.ca
Canadian National Institute for the Blind / www.cnib.ca
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society / www.cpawscalgary.org
Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta / www.cpalberta.com
Child and Youth Friendly Calgary / www.cyfc.ca
Children's Cottage Society / www.childrenscottage.ab.ca
Community Kitchen Program / www.communitykitchenprogram.com
Ferret Rescue and Education Society / www.ferrets.ca
Fort Calgary / www.fortcalgary.com
Friends of Carewell Volunteer Association / www.yourcarewell.com
Habitat for Humanity / www.habitatcalgary.ca
Inn From the Cold Society / www.innfromthecold.org
Justice For Youth / www.justice4youth.com
Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta / www.kidscancercare.ab.ca
Kids Help Phone / www.kidshelp.sympatico.ca
MEOW Foundation / www.meowfoundation.com
Mustard Seed Street Ministry / www.theseed.ca
Salvation Army / http://ab.salvationarmy.ca
Special Olympics Calgary / www.calgaryspecialolympics.ab.ca
StoryBook Theatre Society / www.storybooktheatre.org
Talisman Centre / www.talismancentre.com
Telus World of Science / www.calgaryscience.ca
The Electronic Recycling Association of Alberta / www.era.ca
The Terry Fox Foundation / www.terryfoxrun.org
United Nations Association in Canada / www.calgary.unac.org
Walk-In Closet / www.walk-incloset.ca
YMCA - Calgary / www.ymcacalgary.org
"Not everything that counts can be counted.
And not everything that can be counted, counts."
- Albert Einstein
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