5 Ways to Volunteer in Metro Manila This Weekend
After a long week of hard work, computers, traffic, and work stress, where do you find rest?
For a lot of us, work-life balance comes in the form of food, leisure activities, surrounding ourselves with friends and best of all, burying ourselves in our beds. Our weekends are spent recharging our bodies and our minds, but is that really enough? Resting is not always enough. Sometimes, even having fun on the weekends isn’t enough to set apart one dreary Monday from another. Sometimes, we should ask ourselves: What recharges your heart?
If you’re not sure how to answer that question yet, here’s a suggestion — spend your weekend volunteering. Yes, you’re giving up your time but you’re also gaining things in return. Whatever it is you’re passionate about (e.g. music, the environment, children, fitness), there will most likely be a group that caters to that interest and will allow you to express your love for it in a way that also helps others. On the other hand, volunteering for causes outside of your interests will help you get out of your comfort zone, and you might even develop new skills to help you do better at work. You get to meet new people, and somehow you also get to meet yourself anew.
To give you an extra push, we at Kalibrr have compiled a list of a few places you can start out with on the path to becoming a weekend volunteer warrior even in the middle of Metro Manila.
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iVolunteer Philippines
Visit http://ivolunteer.com.ph/
iVolunteer Philippines is a site that links NGO’s and various outreach activities in need of manpower with willing and able volunteers who are eager to put themselves to good use. Think of it as a form of matchmaking for the benefit of society. iVolunteer is a platform customized to reach the people of today and they definitely walk their talk – they’re 100% powered by volunteers. You can find projects by location and by category (Children & Youth, Education, Environment, Health, and Poverty). A quick look at the front page will also show you the events you can sign up for.
U! Happy Events
2610 Raffles Corporate Center, F. Ortigas Road,
Ortigas Center Pasig City, Philippines 1605
Landline: +632 9755276/ +632 5763170
Mobile : +63917 8874278/ +63918 8884278
E-mail: shoutout@uhappyevents.com
Visit http://uhappyevents.com/
U! Happy Events is a non-government organization organizes events for underprivileged children. They seek to serve both the children and to reach the people who want to help these children but don’t know how. They have a project almost every week and even on weekdays, if it fits your schedule. All the activities are fun and light, like kite-flying, accessory making workshops, and storytelling workshops.
If your company doesn’t have an outreach event yet, U! Happy Events partners with companies and groups, as well.
A-HA! Learning Center
9708 C. Pililia St.
Brgy. Valenzuela, Makati 1200
Mobile: +632 918-979-3629
Landline: +632 804-0091
Email: ahalearningcenter@gmail.com
Visit https://www.facebook.com/ahalearning
A-HA! Learning Center is a small NGO based in Makati that tutors public school children from the surrounding community. The A-HA tutors teach kids from 1st grade to 4th year high school in English, Math and Science. As tutors, you’ll be expected to teach anywhere from 5-15 kids at a time – alternating between teaching and playing with them. The center has sessions on weekdays as well as weekends. If you aren’t available to tutor but you think you can teach the kids another skill, go ahead and contact A-HA!
Fairplay For All Foundation
Email: ffafoundation@gmail.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fairplayforallfoundation/
Located in a small two-storey house on Bicol Road, Payatas, The Fairplay For All Foundation started out as a free football clinic and grew into a drop-in center where kids from the community go to learn, play, and just be children.
At the center, the children are given the freedom to choose their activities and voice out what it is they really want to study. In turn, Fairplay For All creates these opportunities to learn — mainly through volunteers. They are always looking for people who can teach not only subjects you’ll find in school but extra-curricular things like dance and even yoga. Get in touch with them at ffafoundation@gmail.com and find out how you can contribute to their cause.
Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center (PARC)
Aurora Boulevard, Katipunan Valley
Loyola Heights, Quezon City (beside Superlines)
*Closed on Sundays and Holidays
Visit http://www.paws.org.ph/
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society, more popularly known as PAWS, is a registered NGO that focuses on protecting and promoting the humane treatment of animals. Their compound in Quezon City houses dogs and cats all rescued from either cruelty or neglect. They take care of the animals in the hope that they will be able to find new homes and better lives. According to their site, they can receive an average of around 50 calls a day concerning animal welfare.
If you want to help out at PAWS, you can choose among many roles and tasks you can fill such as: Office Assistant, Adoption Team, Match-Maker, Adoption Follow-up, Clinic Technician Assistant, Foster Care, Animal Rescue Team, Dog Training and Rehabilitation Team, Campaigns, Pet-Facilitated Therapy, Spay-Neuter Team, Fundraising Events, Lobbying and legal work.
Make sure though that you’re committed. Volunteers must be prepared to render at least eight hours a month doing work with PAWS for the animals.
Work doesn’t have to come in the way of lending a hand. If you volunteer regularly and you know more places to volunteer at, share the love and let us know.
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