Making the world a better place starts with children. Kids are the future… of each family, our nation, and our planet. Every child deserves to be loved and cherished and to grow up in a healthy, happy environment. Is your resolution 2020 to help children in need?
From volunteering in schools to making donations for families to working in volunteer reading programmes to helping feed hungry children, there are so many opportunities to help children in need.
Benefits of volunteering with NGOs for children
There are lots of benefits to becoming a volunteer with non-profits that work with kids and teenagers. You can learn new skills, improve your CV, build your confidence and make new friends. NGOs for children have various opportunities for you to get involved in, from helping mentor a young person to taking part at fundraising events.
What to Consider before Volunteering with Children
Caroline Boudreaux, who started Miracle Foundation, recommends strongly against orphanage voluntourism. In her work with orphanages in India over the past 18 years, Boudreaux has found that many orphanages lure well-meaning people to their institutions in hopes of getting donations.
“There’s really no good way to go into an orphanage for a week and get anything meaningful done,” Boudreaux says. “Often, volunteers end up doing more harm than good when their visit is so short-lived.” She recommends, instead, that people who have a strong desire to do meaningful work with children look at volunteer teaching programmes.
To help you find a cause that speaks to your heart, here are a few organizations that utilize volunteers to help children in need:
Childline was an experimental project of Department of Family and Child Welfare, TISS. Now it is India’s first 24-hour, free, emergency phone service for children in need of aid and assistance.
What to do: You can donate via demand draft or online, or volunteer at Childline network or for Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Program based in Mumbai.
The organisation works on welfare projects around education, healthcare, and livelihood. Smile Foundation has a pan-India presence, with headquarters in New Delhi.
What to do: You can volunteer or donate to support their projects.
Miracle Foundation India is a non-profit organization that brings life-changing care to orphaned & vulnerable children. For abandoned children without family — their measurable, systematic method ensures that children are loved, educated, healthy and safe until they transition to a permanent family.
What to do: Pledge your birthday, run a marathon, or ask people to donate in lieu of wedding gifts. Donate to the cause or start a fundraiser on Ketto.
While the primary focus of the organisation lies in undertaking disaster relief, and humanitarian aid like providing clothes; the organisation also has a wing dedicated to child welfare. They go from school to school to address educational needs in remote areas, and they also work to address childhood trauma, so that every child gets to enjoy a childhood. Goonj has a presence in more than 1935 villages in 15 states, with headquarter in New Delhi.
A few other ways you might be interested in helping children in your community include:
Feeding Children
There’s a good chance that there are children that desperately in need of food right in your own neighbourhood. Check with schools and daycare programmes in your area to see if they accept food donations.
Tutoring Children
Many children need help outside of school with homework or just to catch up on what they are being taught in class. Volunteer to provide homework help or tutoring in a specific subject in an after-school programme.
Spending Time with Disabled Children
Want to work with disabled children? These children can use help in various areas, so no matter what your area of expertise is, you can provide help and inspiration. Whether you share your love of music, puzzles or reading with them, you will make a positive impact in their lives.
The joy you experience when you help children in need this year will spill into other areas of your life.
