WAY back in school, our teachers would always ask if there was anyone who wanted to volunteer to wipe the blackboard clean. Or, help carry the class’ exercise books to the teachers’ room.
There would always be someone who put up his or her hand to offer that service.
Quite often, these students would do well in their examinations and get positive remarks in their report cards.
Forty or 50 years ago, students would join the Boys’ Brigade, Boys’ Scout, Girl Guide or whatever they fancied.
Of course, some would join the debating society and chess club.
Joining these groups was part of their introduction to the world of volunteerism.
Volunteering was quite small those days. But today, volunteerism is thriving and helping to make a difference in many places.
Today, many schoolchildren join a uniformed group in school as part of their extra-curricular activities although this is not mandatory.
Still, their participation is a good step towards a more meaningful involvement in later years.
Volunteerism is more organised today.
There are groups of people who form registered associations with structured plans for their activities.
They offer their services in and outside the country. Many of them have earned the respect of the international community too.
Look at Mercy Malaysia. It has made a lot of difference with its niche in medical services during disasters.
It is very resourceful and has even built a hospital in Aceh, Indonesia, to cater to the needs of the post-2004 tsunami and earthquake victims.
You must take off your hat to them. Look at the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC). They, too, have proven their capability in and outside the country. MRC is volunteer-led but its human resources are government servants.
MRC volunteers are well-trained in search and rescue, rehabilitation operations post- flood and other natural disasters.
MRC also provides a 24-hour ambulance service that is operational 365 days a year.
It is, of course, part of the International Committee of Red Crescent. Such networking is very useful in matters pertaining to sharing of information, resources, training and expertise.
Volunteers are great humanitarians, giving everything they have without much consideration to their wellbeing.
The true-blue volunteer will be the first to arrive at a disaster scene, always ready to extend a helping hand.
It is against this backdrop that an international gathering of volunteers from the Asia-Pacific region is being held next week.
Coming from 27 countries in the region, volunteers and officials from the non-governmental organisations that they represent will talk, eat and sleep volunteerism with their Malaysian counterparts.
Listen to veteran volunteer, Datuk Dr Freezailah Che Yeom, senior trustee of Yayasan Salam: “Malaysia is gifted with a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society who are inherently kind-hearted and generous.
“This is a great asset with immense potential yet to be fully utilised.
“Voluntary organisations such as Yayasan Salam are well-positioned to create awareness and, thereby, play a catalytic role to sustainably harvest this national asset.
“By doing so, we can help forge solidarity and harmony among our diverse citizens.
“A caring society is a goal we need to nurture for the continued social and economic development of the country.”
Another volunteer, Datuk Zuraidah Atan, who heads Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswazah, has this to say: “I always tell my volunteers not to romanticise volunteer efforts.
“It’s hard work that requires discipline, and shouldering responsibilities and accountability. Whatever we do, we create a buzz and spread positive vibes. A strong, collective leadership is important.
“Each of us is a leader in our own right.
“Together, we can become a formidable force. We need to move up to the next level, scale up our visibility internationally and domestically.
“We start or continue by doing it right the first time. Never think no one notices volunteer efforts. People do. People actually watch more when you don’t make any effort,” she said.
Dr Freezailah and Zuraidah are among the speakers at the IAVE Asia Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference, which is preceeded by the IAVE Youth Volunteer Conference. IAVE stands for International Association for Volunteer Efforts.
IAVE, with its headquarters in Washington DC, the United States, will be represented by its World president, Kylee Bates.
She has this to say: “The Asia Pacific has long been a strong region for IAVE, with members in many countries being at the forefront of innovation and volunteering and a demonstrable commitment to improving people’s lives through volunteering.
“It is a region that has strong and diverse examples of national leadership for volunteering and notably exhibits strong regional collaboration and individual leaders in volunteering.”
Indeed, volunteering can be addictive. I have met so many individuals who would not bat an eyelid when asked to join voluntary missions, be it helping to distribute food to the homeless or helping in search-and-rescue operations during floods and other natural disasters.
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The writer is chairman of Yayasan Salam Malaysia