The previous two chapters have seen us sharing the appropriate attitude and the issues to consider for volunteering. By now, you'd probably have decided on whether to take part in volunteering, or you may already have had a taste as a volunteer. 

Volunteering is meant to bring happiness and satisfaction, yet many often find the initial feeling of being needed dwindling, the longer they are into service. The reason is simple: they have ignored the golden rules of volunteering.

Do Not Impose Your Values

You may not be aware of it but you could have subconsciously compared the operation of the social service organisation with that of the company you used to work in or manage. In the end you may feel dismayed at the administration process and performance at the social service organisation – you struggle to understand why, when an issue only took your single action to be solved would now involve countless meetings, exchanges of opinions, and the coordination of various departments before it reached the board of directors.

Puzzled and eager to interfere you may be, do stay out of the administration and management issues of the social service organisation you volunteer at, unless your expertise is consulted. Even then, refrain from imposing your past work experience onto other people. It is important to learn to understand and accept differences. Having said that, if the situation exceeds your tolerance threshold, it is wiser to consider ending your service, so that you won't adversely affect the organisation's efficiency of operation.

Mental Preparation

It is equally important to be mentally prepared for the death or departure of the persons you volunteer to serve, and this is especially true in the case where you take care of the elderly. Grief is understandable at the passing away of the elderly person you have spent a while taking care of, but you'll need to learn to accept the reality. If the person you take care of is a teenager or child, you should embrace the sense of achievement at their departure, as that means they have grown to be able to fend for themselves.

In incidences of death of the elderly, it is the responsibility of the organisation to provide volunteers with relevant emotional counseling or even trauma counseling, so as to help volunteers confront and accept the grief. Meanwhile, grieving volunteers should be active in reaching out for help, overcome the mournful state and move on.

Consideration

More importantly, be considerate and refrain from developing any inappropriate relationship or feelings beyond the bounds of your volunteering work. For instance, don't give money to the impoverished persons you help just out of sympathy, as that would cause their unduly dependence on you. Likewise, don't easily yield in when the persons you serve ask you for favours. This is not to say you shouldn't be empathetic, but the better thing to do is to discuss the situation with the responsible organisation or manager, after you've obtained consent from the person in question, and leave the follow-up work to the party-in-charge.

Here's another useful tip: voice your opinion to the organisation and manager you volunteer under, instead of letting the negative feelings off your chest to people who are not involved in the projects. If, however, the responsible party can't assuage the issues, it is perhaps a better idea to take a break from your current volunteering work, and prepare for your next volunteering commitment.

Always remember the purpose of volunteering is not about achievement, reward or recognition; it is about doing your bit for society through real action initiated from the heart.

Below are some organisations which provide volunteering works, you could choose and start helping the others!

Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA)
PE Link Volunteer Network was set up in 1997. Comprising over 1,000 trained volunteers, the network aims at relieving the tangible needs and emotional challenges of the elders and people in need through the provision of comprehensive non-emergency assistance services.
Website：http://www.schsa.org.hk
Telephone：2338 8312

Hong Kong Red Cross
The Hong Kong Red Cross has a long history of promoting volunteer service.  We mobilize the public to participate in volunteer service, and to serve and care for the sick and the suffering with the spirit of humanity. We have now over 18,000 volunteers who aged between 8 and 80.
Website：www.redcross.org.hk
Telephone：25077139

Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS)
AVS motivates, mobilizes and facilitates individuals, groups and organizations to provide value added and quality volunteer service through partnership with all sectors of the community and other effective means.
Website：http://www.avs.org.hk
Telephone：25460694

Timothy Ma
Registered social worker
Consultant of the Senior Citizens Home Safety Association

Continuous reading:

Contribute to Your Community. Be a Volunteer!
Self-defined Roles in Wonderful Volunteering Path