Volunteerism

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth."

- Muhammad Ali

Others define it as contributing your own efforts, time, possibly talents for charitable, educational or social purposes for the community by your own will without expecting anything in return. I do volunteer works not only to help and be of service to others but it has become a breather and a time for me to reflect on things that we humans are designed to help each other. Getting out from my comfort zone and reaching out to people whom I really don't know creates a different satisfaction to me.

I feel lucky to find people who are really into this kinds of stuff, and able to coordinate with organizations that are really serious in making this world a better place. I read an article that enumerates the benefits of Volunteerism.

The benefits of Volunteerism are numerous such as self satisfaction, relaxation, socialization, career oppurtunities or community improvement.

On the first day of the year 2010, I became a part of the H1N1 Campaign of QRC (Qatar Red Crescent). Since there were reports on cases of H1N1 infiltration here in Qatar, we decided and aimed for a common goal to prevent the widespread of this epidemic. We visited three camps of different places (Dukhan, Alkhor and Wakra) to equip the settlers with knowledge on prevention, early detection and proper actions to be done with H1N1. I was able to attend two out of three sessions, I was pretty confident back then on conveying information because I know how to speak Indian and Nepali language whom majority of the population are part of. Here are some snapshots of the campaign. 

I also went to the Blood Donation Campaign of Qatar Living Volunteers Group which is conducted at the Hamad Blood Bank last April. Since it was April Fools Day, I actually posted this pic as mobile upload and placed the caption:  At Hamad Cancer Clinic for further blood examinations due to the abnormalities found in my previous test! which actually happened because of it's a pre-requisite for donors with tattoos and piercings. Yes, i do have them both, two piercings and two tattoo. The result was great and they gave me a green light for extraction. Some of my friends were fooled and completely worried.hahahha It's the thrill of April Fools Day anyway. :P

Last July 31, 2010 another campaign was made and this is the Heat Wave Campaign. You see the climate here in Qatar is very extreme. If it's not too cold during winter, it's the opposite on summer which is very hot. To the point that people die because of heat stroke. We gave refreshments to workers who are busy doing their work outdoors while enduring the heat of the scorching sun. With the increasing number of heat-related incidents here in Qatar, this is our simple way of letting people know that we can prevent this catastrophe and they can help too even just by lending a bottle of water.

Let me end this blog by saying that when you get an opportunity to help, to donate your time and experience and to make positive contribution in the lives of less fortunate people or the community. Grab it and you'll be surprised to the kind of fulfillment you'll have because Volunteerism can be a continuation of youthful and middle age activity or part of one's healthy lifestyle.