Whether it is the youth of today, or the experienced older generations, vulnerability transcends the limits of time and culture, and is present across all ages. Being vulnerable does not necessarily restrict the person to a life of weakness and disability, but simply means they are or have the potential to be suffering or in discomfort. It is crucial, therefore, that as a society we understand ways in which we can benefit those around us, as well as appreciating and respecting different circumstances, ethnicities and cultures.
Volunteering work is the most immediate form of relief for organisations that are already set up to support the local community, and those within. Visiting local charity shops to see if you can help assist them, or their individual websites to gather information on how to organise events is undeniably effective. Volunteering work is not just for charities however, you can volunteer for the local council or school, or help create community projects that get the whole local area involved. Through volunteering, you can impact the lives of the most vulnerable, whilst also helping the local environment.
It is through this mindfulness for the environment, therefore, that you can also help improve the quality of the community, and thus the experiences of the most vulnerable. Looking out for litter in the park or on the side of a road is an easy task and cleans up the local area. This small-scale work is perfect for those of you that find the balance between volunteering work and your own career challenging. A simple way to combine both, however, is through specific, paid jobs that focus on improving the lives of those most at risk, such as social care jobs.
Although it is necessary to support those that are struggling locally, having awareness for global crisis’ can also benefit your general understanding of volunteer and charity work- returning to the concept of local charity work and helping the vulnerable within your community.
Essentially, helping the most vulnerable around you is challenging, but rewarding. It can help make you a better person, whilst also exposing you to the different ways of life. Learning about varying cultural traditions and ethnicities allows for a greater understanding of our modern society too; aid should not be restricted through language barriers. Simultaneously, having an open mind for ways in which children or the younger generation can be helped is also crucial- after all, they will be living in the world both you, and they, create.
