The Lived Experiences of Volunteers Essay Example
The Lived Experiences of Volunteers Essay Example

The Lived Experiences of Volunteers Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (750 words)
  • Published: August 18, 2021
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According to the Dalai Lama XIV, generosity is the most authentic way to show compassion and loving-kindness. In the past, resources were distributed among various regions through trading.

In the past, people lived in abundance with no scarcity issues. They owned large farms that provided poultry, cattle, and other necessities to the community. Additionally, they had thriving gardens filled with vegetables and fruits and enjoyed plentiful resources from the environment. However, present-day society faces two major challenges: overpopulation and resource depletion caused by climate change. According to Jackson (2017), climate change is currently the most critical problem affecting the world. In a conducted survey, 48.8% of participants chose climate change as their primary concern, with 78.1% expressing willingness to adapt their lifestyles accordingly. As the population continues to in

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crease, available resources decrease due to deteriorating environmental conditions, leading to increased competition for these resources.

Despite the problems such as resource depletion that society currently faces, there are still people who express their kindness and loving nature through generous acts of giving. Generosity is known as a person's quality of being kind towards others, especially those in need - it is an innate virtue of human beings. This may be due to either the abundance of goods that others lack or the innate instinct to help others. Generosity is not only considered an innate quality but also a practice of those who have a higher quality of life. For some, it is seen as an obligation, but on the positive side, it increases people's moral and reputation. Being generous means being ready to give more in terms of money and time.

Even those who have little to give ofte

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find the capacity to help others, recognizing their hardships and the challenges of scarcity. They comprehend the difficulties of having nothing – no belongings, no kinship, not even nourishment. In times like these, individuals exhibit empathy by performing generous acts like donating, volunteering or providing support. As Tutu (2006) affirms, generosity lies at the heart of human nature.

The essence of being human is justified by the ability to reach out and help others. Volunteers display generosity, which is widely recognized to have an impact on specific psychological factors that fulfill diverse psychological needs and contribute to overall well-being. These factors include inherent charity, influencing an individual's giving behavior, being naturally helpful, showing genuine empathy towards individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. Volunteerism is an act of willingness and initiation that brings ingrained happiness and joy through empathy. These factors affect an individual's psyche and fulfill their psychological needs.
According to Rao (2013), having classmates from lower social classes enhances prosocial behavior in students, as observed through their active participation and volunteering in charitable events at school.

The study discovered that sample schools provided opportunities for students to participate in charitable causes and fundraising events. These activities included attending two school afternoons that aimed to raise funds for disadvantaged children. Researchers found that when students had poor classmates, their willingness to share increased, and when they had poor study buddies, their willingness to volunteer increased significantly. Additionally, the presence of disadvantaged students alongside wealthier students in classrooms increased the wealthy students' willingness to play with the disadvantaged students. This increased prosocial behavior among the wealthier students and seemed to reduce discrimination between the two social classes both

inside and outside of the classroom.

The passage indicates that being around individuals with fewer resources can enhance one's inclination towards helping others and being generous. Moreover, consistently demonstrating empathy and aiding those in need creates a positive image of an individual or organization involved in charitable endeavors. Nevertheless, generosity also brings advantages to the person displaying it. Scholars have discovered that engaging in acts of kindness can enhance cognitive development, happiness, and empathic joy. A specific benefit highlighted is the boost in happiness achievable through acts of generosity.

The happiness and support individuals receive from others play a crucial role in their personal development and resilience. This study focuses on the advantages gained by individuals engaged in acts of charity, rather than those who receive help. Consequently, this research investigates the motivations behind people's continued involvement in volunteer work and its favorable impacts on their intellect, psychology, morals, and social well-being.

This study explored the correlation between engaging in acts of kindness to assist others and the resultant effects on an individual's overall well-being. It examined the association between volunteers' interactions and how their benevolence is linked to a person's holistic welfare.

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