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"If you are coming over to help me, don't bother. But if you are coming because you believe your liberation is tied to mine, then please join me." - An Aborigine woman

Good news for people who want to volunteer themselves for a noble and social cause. A non-profit organisation - iVolunteer - has taken the initiative of linking volunteers with the organisation that needs volunteers.

The urge to change the lives of the less privileged around us is the one desire that lies at the back of the mind of most of us. There are ways of transforming this urge into reality. One could be donating time, money, food or other things of necessity to the less fortunate.

But for those who are interested in getting actively involved in this pursuit, the best platform to do so is through volunteering.

iVolunteer, an initiative of Mitra, is a platform to bring together individuals, corporate houses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for mutual benefit. iVolunteer (formerly India Calls) was launched in the year 200I (the international year of volunteering as announced by United Nations Volunteer Programme). IVolunteer volunteer centre started its operations in Chennai in February 2003.

iVolunteer is a credible platform to help potential volunteers find their niche in the development sector and help NGOs clearly articulate the role they wish volunteers to play in their organisation. Through the initiative of iVolunteer, volunteering goes beyond just serving. It gives you a way to achieve personal growth and mental satisfaction.

Individual volunteering

A non-profit organisation can utilise one's time and skills and one will be amazed to see the impact of one's involvement. Regardless of how much time you have to offer or what your formal training is, iVolunteer will find the right opportunity that works for you.

One could volunteer at orphanages, old age homes, schools, hospitals and not-for-profit organisations. As a volunteer, one will not only learn about the needs of others but more so about oneself. The need for volunteers is never-ending and a variety of opportunities is always available.

Employee volunteering - How the corporates fit in

There are many internal and external benefits for a company that encourages its employees to volunteer. Employee volunteering helps increase staff morale, boost performance and improve retention rates. Employees who volunteer not only get a chance to develop personal skills but also get an opportunity to contribute to an issue that they really care about. And they feel proud of working for a company that supports society and the community.

Businesses where employees are encouraged to volunteer go on to build a positive image in the community as well as with their clients and associates. Employee volunteers improve the company's relationship with its stakeholders, with the local community in which it operates, and/or with the wider community This goes on to show that the company believes in contributing towards society.

In all, corporate volunteering is a winning proposition for employer and employee.

Services offered by iVolunteer: 
For NGOs

• Volunteer Need Assessment - An exercise to identify the 'skill gaps' in an organisation and crystallising a set of opportunities for the organisation to involve volunteers.

• Volunteering Opportunity Verification - Verifying the volunteering opportunities arrived upon by an organisation for the placement of volunteers.

• Volunteer Management Systems - Helping to set up management systems to make the best use of volunteers while making their participation a satisfying experience for them.

• Sourcing Volunteers - Matching volunteers with available opportunities and suitable placements.

For individuals 

* Volunteer Placement - Finding the right opportunity, based on the volunteer's interest area, skill and time commitment.
* Orientation - Orienting the individuals to the development sector and about the organisation before placing them.

For corporate bodies

* Volunteering Policy - Develop policies and practices that encourage and enable employees to volunteer.
* Volunteer Project Management - To create and manage projects through which employees can volunteer - both single day and recurring projects.
To establish formal employee volunteer programmes that offer a wide range of opportunities for employees to volunteer.
* Non-profit boards - Help in placing mid-to senior-level executives in non-profit trusteeship. Serving on a non-profit board of directors is an excellent way for your employees to develop leadership skills, build on their professional network and contribute their effort and expertise to the non-profit organisations.
* Training and Orientation - Help in orienting prospective volunteers to the development sector and related work of the organisations.

There are many advantages in lending a helping hand to those in need. The activities mentioned here are just some of the many which can help realise our pursuit to make India a more prosperous nation.

Mitra, a professionally managed not for profit organisation, started as an entrepreneurial initiative by a few graduates of the Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), working towards promoting the concept of volunteering by contributing time and skills for social good. 'iVolunteer' is owned and managed by Mitra.

With Mitra, one can get associated with any one of the iVolunteer centres set up all over India. One then has an opportunity to volunteer in ways that suit one. Not only this, but for all organisations who are looking at adding volunteering to their functioning, Mitra has a complete workable strategy. In other words, 'we are ready to add meaning to the whole idea of volunteering'.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed International Volunteer Day (IVD) in 1985, it is celebrated every December 5.

The international year succeeded in raising the global profile of volunteerism. More than 120 national committees were formed, complemented by scores of local and regional committees. The official website received some nine million hits. And important steps were taken to measure volunteer contributions; to create legislative frameworks for volunteering; to establish the infrastructure needed to support volunteerism; and to forge more effective partnerships among governments, the United Nations system, civil society, the private sector, the media and other actors.

Some important do's and don'ts of volunteering

The volunteer should be responsible and honest with the organisation s/he is volunteering with.

She/he should be responsible enough to accept assignment of her/his choice with only as much responsibility as s/he can handle and to understand commitments of time and tasks and to fulfil them.

She/he should follow organisational guidelines for codes of conduct, decorum etc.

She/he should decline specific work not acceptable to her/him and she/he should notify the organisation as soon as possible so that it can find a substitute.

She/he should provide honest feedback and suggestions whenever asked to do so.

She/he should consider herself/himself as part of the organisation and not as an outsider.