As taken from Volunteer Canada:

When you volunteer, you give part of yourself–your time, energy, skills and feelings. You give to your family and friends, to your
neighbours, to your community. Sometimes, you are giving to people you don’t know, to people thousands of miles away.

Giving is one of the reasons why people volunteer. Their contributions to others and to their communities bring them feelings of self-fulfillment and the knowledge that they have made a difference.

Volunteering is also a way of saying thank you. It’s a way of recognizing the countless others who, in big ways and small, have
made life richer and better through donations of time and effort. But there is more to volunteering than giving. As a volunteer, you also reap personal benefits and enhance your
personal growth. You:

* increase social awareness
* learn through service
* enjoy better health
* gain self-confidence
* discover your strengths and talents
* build a sense of independence
* expand your social circle

And volunteering gets you ready for the workforce.

By volunteering you:

* develop skills
* gain work experience
* explore career options
* develop a job-finding network

With a strong résumé and new skills, you’ll find it easier to strut your stuff to prospective employers, fill out
university or college application forms, talk to scholarship or bursary officers, or take on more challenging volunteer positions in the community.

That’s the thing about volunteering. You get as much out of it as you put into it! And often, you get a whole lot more.

So, roll up your sleeves and get involved.

As a youth, you will find volunteering a great experience. But it doesn’t stop now. By catching the volunteer bug, you will be
giving yourself a lifetime of rewarding experiences.