In an era where college students are increasingly focused on academic achievement and career prospects, volunteering with a non-profit organization like Madison House that places students in community service roles offers a unique and invaluable opportunity. This experience goes far beyond simply fulfilling a requirement or padding a resume; it is a transformative journey that builds essential skills, fosters leadership, creates lasting relationships, and encourages ethical engagement with the community. Read on to learn the top 15 benefits of volunteering that students cite most frequently.
PICTURES EXCHANGED BETWEEN UVA AND BELGIAN STUDENTS TELL STORIES OF RESILIENCE
During the fall semester, University of Virginia students and their counterparts at Ghent University in Belgium took part in a virtual, non-credit course, “Resilience in the Face of Complexity, Uncertainty, and Injustice.”
Madison House, the independent, nonprofit volunteer center for UVA students, partnered with the U.S. Department of State and the Presidential Precinct to host the course, which entailed Zoom meetings and accompanying coursework. The course was part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, an 80-year-old initiative to promote cross-cultural relationships and further U.S. foreign policy goals.
Volunteer Reflections: The People in Need of Assistance
Madison House's 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Jamie Cranmer, asked three Loaves and Fishes volunteers from Madison House's Hoos Assisting With Life Obstacles (HALO) program to share the one thing they wish more people knew about clients in need of food assistance. Read Jamie's reflections and find out what these volunteers shared.