Volunteer work involves rendering humanitarian services to people in need at times of crisis without waiting for financial returns.
Social services that are required in many areas are enormous and cannot be met by employing full-time staff. Only individual volunteers can help fill the gap and help elevate these services. This is mainly because volunteers offer their services without seeking financial rewards.
The definition of volunteer work differs from one society to another. The outcome of this service is influenced by the common understanding in any given society.
In ancient times, many of these services, including medical advice, were given free by people in society. Whoever had the background or the knowledge — even the simplest piece of information — would help others in need free of charge. This would be done to help them recover or at least ease their pain. Students also used to spend a lot of their time sharing their knowledge with other students at mosques and gatherings.
Society has developed and communities have started benefiting from other people’s experiences. The private and public sectors used to handle such services during times of crisis.
Society gradually transformed into institutions that provide services in return for money. This development has immensely diminished individual volunteer work. In fact, it has altered the meaning of humanitarian service and buried its effectiveness.
How did this happen? There are many reasons behind this diminishing process. This has happened mainly because the people running schools, hospitals and many other social organizations worked expecting money in return.
Whether this shift was intentional or it happened as a result of the pressures of social development, a gap has been created in the field of public services. This gap cannot be eliminated unless we have individuals who feel that voluntary work is a must and that it has to be offered with excitement and enthusiasm.
Volunteer work was gradually translated in each community according to individual interests mixed with a social concept of the services provided. In Western societies, the community managed to crystallize volunteer work in a very clear way for individuals who were zealous to offer their services. The volunteer in the West is someone who sets aside some of his time to an institution.
Other communities call services that are accomplished in return for money as “volunteer work” when it is done outside the official work frame.
Has the concept of volunteer work changed? Have humans become less sensitive when it comes to volunteer work?
We have to program our voluntary work so that it can reflect positively on society. We will not be able to accomplish anything unless we learn from other success stories and take into consideration the success stories that exist in other communities that have developed a treasure of systems and rules.
Each individual will gain a great deal when his or her work is done with an intention of satisfying Allah and seeking His reward.
