Why Volunteer?

  • Volunteering makes one feel like they have more time
    • This is similar to when people donate to charities (they feel wealthier)
    • Volunteering clears up the mind, providing stress relief from other aspects of one's day
  • Volunteering gives one​ an opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience
    • building experience from volunteering can allow job switches and display commitment
    • these skills can be applied in several industries and be applied in a job
  • Physiological benefits:
    • Physical volunteering activities help you stay healthy and active
    • Studies have shown that the more people volunteer, the happier they are

Effective Ways to Volunteer

Tip: At the end of the day, volunteering should not be simply another tedious chore. Choose activities that you would enjoy or want to learn more about. On the flip side, a great volunteering opportunity draws you out of your comfort zone a little bit—this is essential in learning new skills and gaining vital experience.

Questions to ask before searching:

  • Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
  • Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
  • How much time are you willing to commit?
  • What skills can you bring to a volunteer job?
  • What causes are important to you?
  • ​​What is the goal of your volunteering? What are you trying to achieve? Sometimes volunteering indirectly helps, so keeping the end goal in mind helps use your potential in the most effective manner.
​For example: How does hosting an awareness rally help end child marriage? A possible goal might be to educate 50 adults on the meaning and implications of child marriage, and encouraging them to spread the message, volunteer or donate to, say, provide 20 girls a solid 3-day training.
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​Note: Though it may be hard to come up with such an exact goal, thinking in this direction definitely makes one a more driven volunteer, with higher chances of making an impact.

Other Tips

  • Consider several volunteer possibilities.
  • Don’t limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different.
  • Try to visit/ contact different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Go to the Unchained At Last website to sign up as a volunteer against child marriage in the US. These opportunities range from opening a club chapter as a high school or college student, or teaching professional or vocational skills to young girls who may otherwise be trapped in a forced child marriage.
Access the "Get Involved" section of CARE, an international organization working against child marriage and poverty, while empowering women. Ways to volunteer time include signing petitions, hosting advocacy events and fundraising for CARE.
Look out on the Action Aid website for volunteer opportunities. Action Aid tackles many global issues such as conflict, climate change, and gender inequality among many others. Click on the country you might want to work out of before searching for volunteer opportunities in the "search" option listed.
​Take Action for Girls Not Brides, an international coalition of over 700 organizations working against child marriage. Ways to take action include supporting member campaigns, sharing information, hosting advocacy and communication campaigns and reaching out to local lawmakers and law enforcers. 
The above are, by no means, an exhaustive list. Explore the  Donate  page to view more organizations that both take donations and provide volunteering opportunities. Conversely, the above organizations accept donations and will put it to good use.