Volunteers in Action

6 Reasons to Volunteer Longer at Hogar San Francisco de Asis (and in General)
List Provided by Stephanie Stokman

Volunteering is a powerful experience. Below is a list compiled by a previous volunteer on 6 reasons why a volunteer should consider a longer-term volunteer experience.

 
1. The kids don’t learn your name until about a month into it.

2. It takes quite a while to get a hang of the routine and figure out ways to be really useful.

3. Long-term volunteers are always needed to show the short-term volunteers the way around and answer questions. It is important for everyone: the volunteers, nurses, Dr. Tony, the kids, the cooks, everyone!

4. Relationships take time.

5. Learning a language takes time.

6. And, perhaps most importantly, many of these kids come from unstable backgrounds and to have volunteers in and out weekly doesn’t help to give them peace. Being there long-term, the kids learn to trust and open up.

Stephanie and her husband, Jim, volunteered at the Hogar San Francisco de Asis (LINK to profilepage) for 8 months until April of 2010. As Stephanie says, "It is a beautiful things to really get to know the kids."

Click here to read more about projects like the Hogar San Francisco de Asis.

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