 |
|
|
Virtual Volunteering Builds Resumes and Networks By Christine Durst & Michael Haaren April 12, 2012 Everyone knows that volunteering is a great way to network, build your resume, and gain new skills. And if a job opens up in the organization where you’re dazzling everyone with your performance, volunteering can lead to a paid position, too. Now, with telework steadily becoming routine, you can volunteer virtually as well. FINDING VIRTUAL-VOLUNTEER JOBS There are a number of resources where you can find virtual-volunteer openings. Here are just a few: -- United Nations Online Volunteers: The U.N. operates a virtual-volunteer jobs board at www.onlinevolunteering.org. The board lists many opportunities from development organizations internationally. Jobs are categorized by task, development topic and region. Here’s a sampling of recent listings: 1. Develop a social media strategy: The PAAJAF Foundation, a Ghana-based organization “geared towards providing a level playing field for orphans, other vulnerable children and women,” seeks online volunteers to help them develop a social media strategy. “The target is that by the end of June 2012 we have been able to make 5000 people like our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages.” 2. Help with public relations: The U.K.-based Ethiopian Schools for the Poor – English Alive Academy, which offers free education to impoverished Ethiopian children ages 3-12, seeks help with its public relations strategy. For a look at how online volunteers helped the U.N. during the crisis in Libya, see the video clip at www.vimeo.com/32908608. -- Project Gutenberg Volunteers: Project Gutenberg, an initiative to digitize thousands of “public domain” books and offer them as eBooks, seeks virtual volunteers in several roles. According to their website, these include: 1. Proofreading eBooks 2. Procuring eligible paper books 3. Burning CDs and DVDs for people who have no Internet access For more, see www.gutenberg.org. -- Idealist.org: This site lists paid and volunteer jobs and internships for nonprofit organizations internationally. To find virtual-volunteer openings, go to the home page and click on the “Advanced” link under the “Search” button. On the next page, select “Volunteer Opportunities” and search using keywords such as virtual, remote and online. A recent search turned up several openings. Among them was a listing from the Magdalene Human Service Initiative (MHSI), an international organization “dedicated to providing social services and material / financial support for the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals and communities worldwide.” MHSI is looking for online campaigners to collect books and financial contributions “for a public library and local needy schools in Hargeisa, Somaliland.” ---- Christine Durst and Michael Haaren are leaders in the work-at-home movement and advocates of de-rat-raced living. Their latest book is Work at Home Now, a guide to finding home-based jobs. They offer additional guidance on finding home-based work at www.RatRaceRebellion.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 BY STAFFCENTRIX, DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
contents of this site are the property of Staffcentrix, LLC © 1999-2011. Staffcentrix, LLC. All rights reserved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
