ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE LIFE OF ANOTHER
There are many, many, MANY community support programs out there.
One thing you can do is find out what is your nearest community center. (E.g. one of mine is the Newtown neighborhood center).
Most community centers run volunteer programs to help those who need help. E.g. you can volunteer to buddy up with an elderly person or a person with a disability that needs help to do their shopping once a week.
Another similar thing if you cannot find a volunteer program with your local neighborhood center, is the big brother, big sister program
www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au.
Established in the 70s, this organization provides vulnerable young people, in need of additional support and friendship, with a caring mentor and positive role model. Their programs are based on the simplicity and power of friendship!
http://www.comconnect.com.au/disability.htm
also provides information on how you can get involved with the disability community with different services you can take part in:
Interchange: Provides information, respite and social support to families who have a child or young person with a disability. Interchange aims to offer young people with a disability the
opportunity to enhance their social and emotional well being through a range of programs.
The Host Program: Involves a volunteer being matched with and caring for a child with a disability in the volunteer’s home on a regular basis.
The Buddy Program: Involves the volunteer teaming up with a disabled child in a formal setting such as a special development school.
As well as many other things, check the site above for more info!
Generally, the best way you can help is through your community, reading your local paper and not being afraid to help! It's not so scary once you start getting out there.. honest!
It provides an opportunity for you to help others and yourself in experience and from that, knowledge- which spreads to all those around you!
I've honed in on community/local /disability volunteering, but if you are interested in larger organizations and statistical information check out
TanR16's blog page!
and...
If you have a disability and would like to get involved in volunteering, click on this link!
volunteer
Happy Volunteering :)
