Covid-19 Sparks Innovation in Global Volunteer Opportunities

Covid-19 Sparks Innovation in Global Volunteer Opportunities

In the face of global challenges, the spirit of volunteerism has found a new avenue to thrive - electronic or virtual volunteering, or e-volunteering. This innovative approach allows individuals and teams to contribute meaningfully to social causes from the comfort of their homes, bridging geographic and logistical barriers.

The concept of e-volunteering dates back to the early 1970s with Project Gutenberg, but it has gained significant momentum in recent years. In Europe, e-volunteering emerged from Warsaw in 2009, and today, organisations such as Infinite Family, based in Canada, are at the forefront of this movement. Infinite Family is a global video mentoring organisation that connects adults with children worldwide, filling the void left by local role models.

The need for volunteer support did not disappear due to Covid-19, but its delivery was halted. However, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of e-volunteering, with organisations like Cuso International, People and Places, and Taproot offering web-based pro bono service opportunities. People and Places, a social enterprise committed to responsible volunteering, is using e-volunteering to share skills, including teaching, nursing, healthcare, social work, business, and practical skills, in various countries.

Volunteers are recording videos on mobile phones of themselves reading from the same books as classroom lessons, providing motivation and improving pronunciation for students in remote regions. This innovative approach to e-learning is being adopted in Singapore and other parts of the world.

Current trends in e-volunteering reflect a strong shift towards remote, tech-enabled engagement. For instance, virtual team building through volunteering is becoming increasingly popular, with organisations leveraging platforms to host activities such as assembling first-aid kits at home or remotely coordinating disaster relief efforts. This enables global or remote teams to collaborate for a shared social impact from wherever they are.

Disaster relief support via virtual coordination is another key trend. Some volunteers provide remote logistical support for disaster relief nonprofits by scheduling shifts, managing communications, and tracking aid delivery digitally. This use of technology increases the efficiency and reach of relief efforts.

STEM-focused virtual volunteering is also on the rise, with STEM volunteer programs using citizen science platforms that allow volunteers to contribute to scientific research from their computers or smartphones. These activities suit distributed teams and allow asynchronous participation, making them scalable worldwide.

Large companies are also engaging employees globally through virtual volunteering and local community actions. For example, Amazon’s "Global Month of Volunteering" saw over 134,000 employees across 55 countries support 2,500+ organisations through both virtual and in-person efforts, demonstrating a hybrid model of engagement.

Structured volunteering networks, like Goodera, offer companies the ability to find and manage STEM and other volunteering opportunities worldwide, supporting skill-based and location-independent volunteering.

Notable examples of e-volunteering organisations and initiatives include Microsoft and Team Rubicon, Amazon Global Month of Volunteering, Zooniverse Citizen Science Platform, and Valley of the Sun United Way. Each of these initiatives demonstrates the power of e-volunteering in fostering community connection and corporate social responsibility.

However, it is important to note that not all projects People and Places works with have the capacity to receive e-volunteer support, and some face more immediate and pressing challenges. Nevertheless, the spirit of volunteerism continues to adapt and evolve, demonstrating the resilience and innovation of individuals and organisations in the face of adversity.

In the words of Plato, "our need will be the real creator," and during Covid-19, this has been especially true. The necessity for new ways of volunteering has given birth to innovative solutions, proving that there is truly "nothing new under the sun."

[1] Source: Goodera (2021). The State of Corporate Volunteering in 2021. [2] Source: Amazon (2020). Amazon’s Global Month of Volunteering. [3] Source: Zooniverse (n.d.). About Us. [4] Source: Valley of the Sun United Way (n.d.). Corporate Volunteerism.

1. People and Places, a social enterprise in the forefront of e-volunteering, is using this method to share skills like teaching and nursing, offering remote pro bono service opportunities in various countries.
2. Volunteers are embracing the remote lifestyle by recording videos on mobile phones, providing educational content for students in remote regions, thereby adopting an innovative approach to e-learning in Singapore and other parts of the world.
3. Virtual team building through volunteering is gaining popularity, with organizations using technology platforms to host activities like assembling first-aid kits at home or coordinating disaster relief efforts, enabling global teams to collaborate for a shared social impact from anywhere.
4. STEM-focused virtual volunteering is on the rise, with programs like Zooniverse allowing volunteers to contribute to scientific research from computers or smartphones, creating opportunities for distributed teams to participate asynchronously.
5. Companies like Amazon are engaging employees globally through initiatives like the "Global Month of Volunteering," demonstrating a hybrid model of corporate social responsibility, combining both virtual and in-person efforts.

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