Volunteer during Responsible Business Week

© Cathy Yeulet – 123RF.com

Small businesses (SMEs) account for 91% of business and employ up to 60% of the labour force, with an estimate 34% contribution to South Africa's GDP.

Volunteer suggestions

1. Share passions in something staff is already involved in - speak to your colleagues and employees to see if they are already involved in supporting a local NGO - that is a good place to get started.

2. Find the closest NGO to you – go online to find out what is closest to you and give them a call. Be sure to discover their needs before you rock up with your own agenda - it does not work like that. NGOs are generally much more stretched that small businesses are. Be sure to listen and see if there is a way in which you might be able to assist

3. Do something different, you might even get some PR exposure - have fun brain storming this with your team and do something a little bit crazy. Keeping in mind it must always benefit the community, so be sure to be sensitive to what you are going to be doing.

4. Nominate a volunteer champion - every great project needs a team leader - when it comes to volunteering you need the strongest team leader. Pick a task-orientated champion and give them the SMART objective.
   

Tips for volunteer champions

• Get your dedicated volunteer champion to design and deliver a volunteer programme including internal and external elements
  
• Identify and prepare beneficiary NPOs for the selected volunteer activities - ensure you'll be adding long term value
  
• Conceptualise and design a volunteer campaign including generating content for internal communications - a strong call to action
  
• Plan and implement external volunteer activities eg. travel, meals and gear - make it your best event
  
• Plan and implement internal volunteer activities eg desk drops, collection drives, donation packaging, assembly, etc.

Some ideas

First, connect with an NGO or contact organisations such as the Social Collective, which can help you manage the entire process. If you would prefer a youth focused programme, reach out to My Hands and Heart.

Here are some ideas on giving your time to build your community:

• Infrastructure upgrades, if your budget allows
  
• Establishing food gardens, how green are your fingers.
  
• Career days for grade 10 to 12, remember choosing a career - there is a massive gap in community based career guidance, you could help change the course of a young persons life forever
  
• Reading club for children, share a passion for reach and spark this in someone younger than you are. You'll need to dust off your favourite childhood books for this

Why volunteer when you have work to do?

Volunteering is a cost effective way to boost employee morale, invest in your talent and local market and an added benefit is good PR - customers want to know you care - what a great and cost effective way to show them.

For more information, go to app.thesocialcollective.co or call +27(0) 87 551 7321.