Leul Mamo – My First Adventures in Volunteering

I started to volunteer 5 years ago and the reason I started to volunteer was that I  came to the conclusion that I was given much in life and I should give back to my community. I completed the first 2 hours of volunteer work in my community through an NGO called Compassion International Ethiopia. The specific project was called Child Development Program ET-587. But most recently, I volunteered here at Break Diving.

I discovered my first volunteering opportunity relatively quickly, through networking with my local contacts. I spoke to those I knew, and through them, found the right information from people in my community on how to get involved.

Just finding the impetus to actually decide to do it and then follow throw.

Once you've made the commitment, and show up, the work is almost always enjoyable.

As humans I believe we all should jump on the innate desire to give back to society. We all want that inner joy that makes us glow. Trust me, one of the best ways to be joyful is by giving back to our community and world. So, don’t look for “free time” to volunteer–you won’t find it. You have to make time. Trust me if you try to look for free time you won’t find one in today’s busy world.

Hello this is working. Hello Hello

 The dive to live a better life and help others do the same.

I have done other volunteer works before but, I want to share my experience at Break Diving, because it seems to affect me in a more positive way than other experiences I had before.

I have volunteered before but, never did I think that I would really be impacted by the place and team where I volunteered. At some places where I volunteered, I always felt out of touch and felt like I didn’t belong wherever I went. But, the day I found Break Diving, I knew it was gonna change my life forever.

For 3 weeks I had been surfing on volunteermatch.org trying to find an awesome virtual opportunity and I found some and I was pretty excited for a while volunteering there. However, after some time, the people at the organizations either lacked vision for their companies or were lazy. Just as I was gonna just quit and start to feel regret over the time I had wasted, I found Break Diving and just to apply, I was supposed to answer all of these questions. And I was like “What?” Then it suddenly came to me that maybe this company was indeed serious enough to make the process worthwhile, and the process was indeed hard and long but, seriously I never enjoyed anything like applying to Break Diving. I still can’t figure out why an arduous application would excite me.

Well, it took me 4 or 5 days to get done with the application. I was so desperate to start working and changing the world, yup I believe that I am changing the world for the better and it is possible. After I was welcomed on board the team. The team was amazing, more than amazing. I volunteered for about 6 months. It was a great time in my life, and I remain an active member of the community that I helped to build.

Break Diving for me turned out to be not just a volunteer opportunity, but rather, a home. A place where you support others to achieve their dreams, and in the meanwhile, you are achieving your own dreams too. And getting the support you need and again inspiring others by giving them the support they need to achieve their dreams. Break Diving believed in me when I doubted myself and my capabilities. It believed in what I had to offer to the the world. Not only did I get the chance to help people, but I was given a chance to pursue my dreams in life because everyone at Break Diving gave me the confidence to believe in myself and go after those dreams.

I don’t have time for Break Diving. It’s true. That, is, however why I make the time. Every time I log in and help someone else, or post about my own dreams, it gives me a chance to make impact on someone else, and for someone else to make an impact on me. I hope you too will fall in love with Break Diving as much as I have!

I shared documents with the Break Diving staff about my first volunteering opportunity. As for volunteering at Break Diving, obviously, they know that I volunteered for a time as a staff member. You can also see my name at www.breakdiving.org, at the bottom of the staff page under ‘former staff’.

Yes, I will be pursuing the next level. Can’t wait to tell you where my next journey leads me.

No Rules. No Excuses. No Regrets.