Every day, we see different organisations putting out a call for volunteers. But what exactly is volunteering? What do they do? Is it just a ploy to get free labour? Does volunteering add anything to the lives of volunteers? After their experience, would any volunteer for a non-profit or social-impact focused organisation recommend that others do the same? 

To answer these questions, we spoke to five different people who are volunteers across various organisations and fields, to gain a first-hand understanding of what the experience has been like for them, and to help you – yes, you reading this – decide if you should consider volunteering for a non-profit or social-impact focused organisation or project.

Welcome,  can you introduce yourself?

My name is Ijeoma Anastasia Ntada, and I volunteer at a non-profit called Redefining African History.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

What inspired me to start volunteering was my curiosity on learning how things worked practically. Prior to that, everything was purely theoretical. Growing up in a small town in Delta State, there were a lot of limitations for me, so when I became social media savvy, I saw that volunteering was one of the things I could do to gain hands-on experience and develop myself as a young person.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

I’ve had a lot of memorable moments actually, but one that stands out to me is running into some of the students I meet on our outreaches to the grammar schools and they just remember me and say “Aunty Ijeoma”. I’ve also kept in touch with a number of them too. I’ve developed a sort of mentor-mentee relationships with some of them. One of which is Chinaza. I went to Chinaza’s school in 2024 for an outreach in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, and we’ve gotten really close somehow, and now she says she wants to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist just like me.

Can you share a challenging moment you experienced and how you handled it?

The biggest challenge so far is combining my volunteering activities with my school life, and my other jobs. It’s been hard striking a balance, so sometimes I stretch myself a bit more to accommodate things because I understand that volunteering is not an excuse for me to do mediocre work.

How has volunteering changed you personally or professionally?

Volunteering has made me a more structured person. It has also made me a better leader in my personal life, and in my professional life.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

Prepare to give your best to whatever organization or project you’re volunteering for. Volunteering is not just for garnering long lists of projects. Doing one meaningful and impactful volunteering work is better than doing 10 shallow work just because you want to use volunteering as a means of getting work experience. Because you don’t get paid as a volunteer doesn’t mean you should do things anyhow. It doesn’t work that way, and you wouldn’t grow like that. So give it your best, and do it with all your heart. Lastly, be open to learning always. You may have preconceived knowledge, and find things different at an organization, so be open to learning.

Hello, can you introduce yourself to us?

My name is Ayorinde Olayinka, and I volunteer at Happy Hearts Initiative. I’ve been volunteering for about three years now.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

I just love the idea of giving back, and at that point, I could not give back financially, but I realised there are other ways to give back, one of which is through service. I saw it as an opportunity to serve. To serve underprivileged children, and I felt that was a good way to give back to my society, before I started giving back to them financially.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

I’ll say one memorable moment I can point to is Children’s Day of 2024. We went on an outreach to this children’s school, and the way they were so appreciative and grateful for what the organisation did for them really got to me. I saw firsthand how some of the basic opportunities I had as a child, such as being able to afford quality education, books, writing materials, etc., still pose a sort of luxury for some underserved kids today. That experience really got to me, and it’s one I’ll never forget.

Can you share a challenging moment you experienced and how you handled it?

So, I serve as the head of the organisation’s media team, and it can be challenging. I work with a group of people, and because we are all volunteers, it’s challenging to get everyone on the same page and have them pull their weight in the best way possible. I’m trying to navigate and balance my personal life and work life, and I’m still trying to pull another person’s weight and commitment. I just want to show up, do my part, and serve the children, but having non-responsive team members doesn’t make things easy because we need to do a lot of work to put our work out there, so we don’t start late. The team then has to work more than we should because we’re shouldering other people’s responsibilities at the last minute to keep the work going.

How has volunteering changed you personally or professionally?

Personally, it has made me view the world with a kinder eye. Going on outreaches and seeing where some of these kids experience and where their school is, has made me see things from a different POV. We once visited a community by canoe and saw the joy on the kids’ faces despite living in the most inhumane conditions. You could just tell that they were not less ambitious or okay with their circumstance, but were just happy to go through each day and make the best use of it. Professionally, it made me more dedicated to my work and to seeing it as serving a greater cause.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

I would say volunteer. There is a way that it changes your mind and your perspective towards people. There is a lot that a volunteering experience will do to you that cannot be put into words, so I would always tell people that if there is an opportunity to volunteer, please do.

Hi, can you introduce yourself?

My name is Kanyito Chira. I volunteer with Krawdwise Africa as a Communication and Advocacy Department Manager, and I’ve been volunteering with them for a year plus now.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

My passion for creating a positive, sustainable impact is the main reason I started volunteering. Krawdwise Africa plays a huge role in that, as the theme of our work is environmental sustainability and public health advocacy, which align with key aspects of sustainability. When you look at the SDG goals, we realise that there are different aspects that affect the society, the economy, and the environment, and I’ve taken up many volunteering opportunities that allow me to support the creation of a positive impact sustainably, and Krawdwise Africa allows me to do that every single day.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

I’ll say that a number of moments are memorable, but the most memorable one was the Susty Vibes Street Clean-up 2024. I led the partnerships between Krawdwise Africa and another organisation I was working with at the time (SER Unilag). I was also managing the groups from both organisations and ensuring that they participated successfully in the clean-up. It was at the market, and it went really well, but it was a lot that day. I had to make sure everyone was aligned and that nobody got lost. So, that was the most memorable moment for me.

Can you share a challenging moment you experienced and how you handled it?

A challenging moment I experienced was actually around the time I just started volunteering at Krawdwise Africa, where I led the program execution of an event called KASIC (Krawdwise Africa Social Impact Conference). It was at the end of the year, so most volunteers were really not active. Some felt rushed because it was an annual event, but at the time, people were just kind of winding down for the year. It was challenging because I had to rally everyone and get them to be fully engaged for the event. How I handled it was by having a deep conversation with them. I had a meeting; we bonded over the fact that it’s hard, but we need to deliver on this to inspire people and introduce change makers who will inspire people to do even more in the social impact space, because that’s the major theme of KASIC. After that bonding, I just broke down tasks and made sure that people had enough time to deliver on what they needed to deliver, and it all worked out, and we successfully completed the program.

How has volunteering changed you personally or professionally?

Personally, volunteering has made me more empathetic. A huge part of it is seeing sustainability issues from another person’s perspective. A lot of times, when it comes to people who don’t have a lot of food, or people who are dealing with environmental degradation, it is easy to just say, this is how it is from your own perspective, but the people who are literally going through that or dealing with it have a different idea. Whether it is maybe something else affecting everything, or whether it is their behaviour or mindset, you get to fully understand that, interact with it, and communicate concerning it, so that a solution can be brought about. I think that kind of spills into my own personal life because I don’t see things only from my perspective, I try to understand from the other person’s side, and see how we can come to a resolute solution that is peaceful for all. That sounds very professional, but it’s something that I’m grateful for from my volunteering at Krawdwise Africa. Then, professionally, I have gotten paid job opportunities, many speaking engagements which have boosted my portfolio and CV. I have also developed a range of professional skills, including public speaking, project management, report writing, and research.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

You should volunteer because we are the people needed to create possible influence and change in our society, economy, and environment, whichever case it might be. We are the ones required to do that. So, if you can volunteer, please do, but I’ll say there are a few things to note. True volunteering is unpaid, and yes, it’s already in the name that it is not profitable; you should just know that it’s still somewhere you are required to be professional. You’re still required to treat it like a job, but knowing fully well that you’re doing it because you’re passionate about the cause. So, you have to be passionate about the cause and willing to act professionally while volunteering. It is not a space to disrespect anyone or act entitled; it’s a space to create positive change and impact, so that’s what I will say.

Hello, Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Folajimi Omolola Ogunlesi and I volunteer with different organisations, notable amongst them is Bridge D Gap Initiative.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

What inspired me to volunteer in organisations whether Bridge D Gap or any other organisation is my love for the community. I always had an interest in service and community impact and development. I also see it as my way of giving back to society.

What’s your most memorable moment so far?

The joy of service is that we see the difference it makes. After the Bridge D Gap Initiative’s Mom, Money, and Me’s program last year, the testimonies were great and right there we could see the impact the event created in both mothers and daughters. It’s such a privilege to have contributed to that!

Have you faced any challenging moments and how did you handle it?

One challenge I faced was communicating with children. It taught me to be patient and connect with them on their level which was a great learning curve.

What will you say to someone considering becoming a volunteer?

One thing I would say to someone volunteering is that you would never regret it, apart from the fact that you’re serving, you need the opportunity to build yourself as well. It’s a very big avenue for growth.

Hello, Can you introduce yourself to us?

My name is Joy Oromide Olatunji. I currently volunteer at an NGO called CORA (Committee for Relevant Arts), and I’ve been doing so for over a year.

What inspired you to start volunteering?

I started volunteering for CORA to gain insights into my course of study- English.
I wanted to explore the different opportunities in English, and make valuable connections and networks with other literary minds. CORA helped me with achieving it.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

My most memorable moment so far would be at LABAF 2025 (Lagos Book and Arts Festival ) where I had the opportunity to interview two public figures I held in high esteem. That moment saw me do something I’ve wanted to do regardless of being afraid.

What’s one challenging moment you’ve experienced and how did you handle it?

One challenging moment will be when my partner that I was paired with on my first day of being a reporter at LABAF dropped off the project, and I was alone. I handled it by reaching out to other fellow volunteer reporters to strategise on how best we could all work together to still be effective and get the work done despite being short staffed. 

How has volunteering changed you personally or professionally?

Volunteering has been a transformative experience that has helped me become a better communicator. It has enabled me to express myself more effectively and improved my conflict resolution skills. Additionally, it has enhanced my reporting abilities. On a personal level, volunteering has increased my sensitivity to the environment and taught me to be more perceptive of social cues. It has also given me a significant confidence boost and built my self-esteem.

What will you say to someone considering volunteering?

First of all, you need to have a reason for volunteering. Also, you need to have a healthy view towards the idea of volunteering. Don’t ever look at it like a sort of “slave-work”. Volunteering is more than that and it’s a very noble engagement. It comes with a lot of benefits, opportunities, and growth. Lastly, always ask the right questions regardless of how good you are at the particular role, because all you’re doing needs to be aligned with the values of the organization you’re volunteering with.

Final Thoughts

Volunteering for the right cause is a way to create change in our society. It’s like a little drop of water that eventually becomes a mighty ocean. Speaking to these volunteers also made us realise that it won’t always be easy, and just because it’s not a paid venture doesn’t mean it should be treated with less importance. Volunteering is, in fact, very important work, and one person’s lack of seriousness can pose a great burden and stress on their team. 

Our advice to you, the reader, is to do your research and find organisations or projects around you that pique your interest or passion, and sign up as a volunteer. And to those who are already volunteers, we urge you to take a pledge today to show up seriously and contribute meaningfully to your organisation.