Six Organisations You Can Volunteer for Good
In the month of giving, volunteer your time and attention for a cause you care about.
As the year comes to a close, some of us may seek rest and look forward to treasured moments with loved ones and our community. For many of us, we want this time to be spent meaningfully too, whether with family or strangers in need.
This year we reflect back on the stories we’ve told and spotlight organisations that rely on the kindness of volunteers.
Open Door Policy
Who they are
Open Door Policy (ODP) is a non-profit helping marginalised communities thrive and find remote work opportunities globally.
The difference they make
Through their online skills training program and partnerships with education institutions and grassroots NGOs, ODP trains refugees for free in skills like business fundamentals, customer experience, digital literacy, and workplace soft skills.
At the end of the program, ODP-qualified graduates are not only equipped with workforce-ready skills but are then connected to remote work opportunities, which allow them to work from anywhere in the world.
How you can volunteer
Help amplify the work of Open Door Policy with your specialised skillset. Volunteer to share your expertise.
Sisterhood
Who they are
Founded by women refugees in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sisterhood Community Center (SCC) is a dedicated organisation for refugee women seeking community, life skills and support. Funded by donations, SCC’s activities and upskilling classes are managed by refugee women or volunteers.
The difference they make
SCC is a melting pot of meaningful connections critical for the health and well-being of refugee women. SCC has become a haven community in which the women support each other, and find hope and purpose in their lives despite the uncertainty of their circumstances.
Refugee women are given the power to take control of their lives through SCC’s programmes and activities. Learning English, crafts, makeup or jewelry skills are some of the many options at SCC that arm them with skills to survive and thrive in Indonesia.
SCC has impacted the lives of refugee women in a profound and positive way, giving them a safe space and the support of a growing community of over 400 ‘sisters’.
How you can volunteer
Find out how you can offer your skills to help empower the (refugee) sisters. They are looking for women advocates to support their digital activities, talks and programmes. Volunteers do not have to reside in Indonesia.
Project Goodwill Aid
Who they are
Project Goodwill Aid (PGA) is a volunteer-led group providing practical aid to marginalised communities and transient workers living in Singapore.
The difference they make
At the height of the pandemic, PGA’s expertise in supporting needy Singaporean families and the elderly with practical aid for the past eight years became crucial in mobilising and responding to requests for assistance from transient workers.
What initially started with sending food packs to a small group of 70 to 80 Malaysian transient workers quickly grew to 500 within a week. At its peak, PGA was serving 1,000 transient workers weekly, and has since incorporated helping transient workers in Singapore as a permanent routine to what they do.
How you can volunteer
Support Project Goodwill Aid through volunteering with them, or collaborating to feed the hungry in Singapore.
Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)
Who they are
Founded in 2001, ACRES is a non-profit animal protection organisation dedicated to spreading awareness, education, and also wildlife rescue. It is run by a small but passionate team of full-time staff and is supported by dedicated volunteers and donors.
The difference they make
ACRES champions and nurtures a society that is compassionate towards wildlife. Besides running a 24-hour animal rescue centre, the charity also conducts outreach and educational programmes for the public.
Daily, ACRES responds to hotline calls about animal encounters and spend much of their time in residential and commercial areas near forests and nature parks, helping members of the public better understand what to do when they encounter wildlife like the macques, an ubiquitous sight in Singapore.
By advocating and working towards tangible solutions to reduce the human-wildlife conflict in Singapore, ACRES, with the help of volunteers, are able to better educate local Singaporeans to take ownership of the space they live in and to empower themselves with knowledge of what to do when encountering a wild animal.
How you can volunteer
Become a catalyst in the movement and join ACRES in creating a home where humans and wildlife can coexist. Sign up and register your interest to Volunteer for ACRES.
Impart
Who they are
Impart is a non-profit organisation in Singapore that focuses on transformative youth development. Their mental health arm, SYNC, trains and equips youth volunteers to impart healthy coping strategies and lend support to their peers in dealing with challenges in life.
The difference they make
With a goal of building a community of young people who can care for and journey with each other in dealing with issues of mental health, Impart works closely with social service organisations, volunteer welfare groups, and their community partners to better support youths between 10 to 24 years old who face adversities such as peer pressure in school, financial difficulties, domestic violence and homelessness.
Impart trains their volunteers in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and shares coping techniques that volunteers can engage their clients in, such as visualisation, expressive art, and breathing exercises. as well as taking cold showers to increase clarity and mental alertness.
Beyond providing therapy and teaching coping techniques, Impart’s volunteers are able to create a safe space for their clients and foster a relationship based on trust and companionship.
How you can volunteer
If you’re above 21 years old and able to commit as a long-term volunteer, sign up to indicate your interest to volunteer and make a difference to youths in need
Visit our gift and donate guide for ideas on how else you can spread some joy!
