Homs, Syria, 2 June 2020 – In the war-ravaged village of Teir-Ma’aleh in northern rural Homs, children were barely recovering after years of conflict and displacement when a new challenge emerged. With the global spread of COVID-19, they were forced to stay home from school, away from their friends and loved ones, while the UNICEF-supported child friendly space in the village where they used to play and learn also closed, compounding children’s vulnerability.

“They had felt a brief glimpse of normality restored into their lives, being able to go to school and play with their friends in the street just like children across the world,” explains Salam, 25, who volunteers as an animator for children under UNICEF’s psychosocial support programme.

 

“Then COVID-19 emerged, forcing them to give these things up again,” he adds.

Salam, a mechanical engineer, now leads a team of four volunteers who have taken it upon themselves to bring back happiness to the children in the village.

“We are trying to bring the psychosocial support and child protection activities they would’ve participated in at the centre if it weren’t for lockdown, to their home,” he continues.

 “We are helping them use the long time they spend at home doing something unusual, fun and educational all at the same time,” adds Aya, 24, a medical student and one of the volunteers.

To that end, the team of young volunteers write stories, compose songs and create fun activities, all centred around child rights, precautionary measures to protect against COVID-19 and mine risk education. The team then records them on their phones and goes door-to-door to share them with children by sending the recordings via Bluetooth to parents’ phones, along with printouts. A few days later, the team visits the children again to discuss the materials and provides them with new stories and activities.

“We expected children to better engage with voices, but we were thrilled to see how excited they were!” says Aya, who recorded many songs with her beautiful voice. “They listened to the recordings so many times that they could identify us by our voices on the second day,” she adds.

Osama, 22, is another team member who volunteered to cheer up the children of his community in his hometown, Teir-Ma’aleh.

“Children here had already been through so much and they still live amidst lack of basic services; the last thing they needed was to be forced to be away from school and friends,” he says.

Since the home visits started two weeks ago, children and parents knock on Osama’s door almost every day, asking when the team will visit their areas.

“I’m overwhelmed to see how happy children and parents are, with what we are doing; we’ve succeeded in helping ease some of the pressure they are under,” he adds with a big smile.

The three volunteers are part of a UNICEF-supported network of three child protection mobile teams supporting children in the governorate of Homs to cope with their situation during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Summary: Nonprofit organizations felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the same way other local, small- and mid-sized businesses have this year. With the holidays quickly approaching, many people start looking for volunteer opportunities to give back to their communities. In this article, we’ll discuss how to volunteer safely this season as the coronavirus crisis continues.

The holiday season is the perfect time of year to make a difference in others’ lives. Giving back in your community provides a feeling of purpose, and volunteering time, money or efforts can be some of the most beneficial actions human beings can make.

2020 has been a year unlike any other, and nonprofit organizations, like many other industries, were hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nonprofits had difficulty maintaining their normal level of service to their communities, finding it necessary to reduce their number of employees and volunteers, limit travel, and take additional precautions to help avoid spreading the virus.

However, throughout the crisis, volunteering actually increased across the United States. Volunteers flocked to organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Crisis Text Line, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and more. Many people wished to feel useful, keep busy or learn new skills during the unpredictable times early in the pandemic, while others simply wanted to help those less fortunate. Volunteering for civil rights organizations and political organizations also increased throughout the late spring and summer months.

How to Volunteer Safely During COVID-19

With the holidays quickly approaching and the coronavirus pandemic surging across the nation, many people may be wondering if it’s safe to volunteer this season. Volunteerism traditionally increases over the holidays, with an estimated 1 in 4 Americans volunteering through an organization for a total of 104.9 billion hours. It’s clear many citizens feel it’s important to spread joy and make the season extra special for those who may be isolated and lonely or those who have been impacted financially by the pandemic.

Volunteering can still be done in a safe, effective manner this holiday season despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Some of the best volunteer jobs that can serve your community and make a difference in the lives of others this time of year include:

Make a Donation

One of the safest options this year is to donate to worthy causes. Choose to support a nonprofit that aligns with your beliefs and values, whether it’s helping the homeless, political or civil rights organizations, your church, animal shelters, or those assisting with COVID-19 relief efforts. Donations can be monetary or material goods, like food, clothing or medical supplies.

Deliver Meals or Groceries

The most vulnerable population, aging seniors, may find it extremely difficult to leave their homes right now. Many nonprofit organizations, such as Meals on Wheels, work to prepare food, package and deliver it to those who need it most. Meals on Wheels published a survey that revealed since the beginning of the pandemic in March, the program has served 47% more seniors home-delivered meals. Additionally, the organization has seen a rise in its operating costs due to the increase in meal deliveries and the need to acquire safety supplies for their volunteers.

Help Out at a Local Food Bank

In-person assistance at a food bank includes sorting, packing and serving food, and organizations like Feeding America make a big difference in the lives of families struggling with hunger during the holidays. Volunteering at local food banks increases exponentially over the holiday season, so make sure to contact the one nearest to you as early as possible if you’d like to help out. You might be needed in the kitchen, to pass out or serve meals, or deliver food to those who can’t leave their homes.

Donate Blood or Volunteer at the Red Cross

One of the best volunteering opportunities not only during the holidays, but at any time of the year, is to give the gift of life by donating blood. The American Red Cross states that there has been a critical need for blood and platelet donations since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, 90% of the Red Cross workforce are volunteers, and their need for more volunteers is constant. They offer volunteer opportunities both within the community and remotely, and the organization works closely with public health officials to ensure those volunteering are as safe as possible.

Work Remotely or Online with Nonprofits

If you’re not comfortable volunteering onsite, many nonprofit organizations offer options to help out from the comfort of your home. Those with a creative side can create homemade cards to send to active soldiers, veterans or hospitalized children. Some organizations have online wish lists so you can easily purchase items they need and have them sent right to their door. DoSomething.org and VolunteerMatch.com offer plenty of remote volunteer opportunities so you can continue to give back – safely – throughout the holiday season.

Keeping Volunteers Covered with Nonprofit Insurance from AmTrust Financial

Nonprofit organizations face unique risks, and that’s why AmTrust Financial provides a variety of lines of insurance coverage specifically tailored to their needs. We work with thousands of nonprofits across the United States to ensure they’re keeping their employees and volunteers safe. For more information about our nonprofit insurance, please contact us today.

This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors. Coverages may vary by location. Contact your local RSM for more information.

Volunteers of the Let’s Do It team, in cooperation with the European Union Info Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, today planted trees in ten communities across BiH as part of the “Our Planet, Our Future” campaign.

The teams planted more than 6,000 new seedlings in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Doboj Istok, Bihac, Ljubuski, Gorazde, Bijeljina, Donji Vakuf, Srebrenica and Olovo.

“After the successful cooperation and planting campaigns in October last year, we are happy with the fact that we have again enriched our country with new tree seedlings. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries with the largest share of forests and diversity of forest species in Europe, and it is a treasure that we must preserve and restore. In addition to the fact that trees give us the oxygen we need to survive, we must not forget the other multiple benefits that forests have for us and our country,” said the Let’s Do It team.

Meet young and driven UN Volunteers helping vulnerable groups across the Western Balkans. They may have different reasons to devote their skills to social improvement, but do they also have different assignments? What they do have in common is a deep understanding of vulnerabilities and a desire to be helpful to the UN.

Most UN Volunteers in Balkan countries are highly skilled individuals, eager to apply and transfer their previous experience in a new context. They are motivated more by the tasks at hand and the opportunity to contribute projects of value.

 

–Rimma Sabayeva, UNV Regional Manager for Europe and CIS

Rachid Ouaich (Morocco) joined the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Montenegro in 2019 as a UN Volunteer Interpreter. He also worked in data management and reporting, and became the first communication focal point for many asylum seekers. Before that, Rachid volunteered for the Red Cross, assisting migrants with French-English-Arabic translation during health or psychological check-ups.

When an asylum seeker applies for status through a non-governmental organization, he or she needs to understand the full procedure, all rights and obligations very clearly. As UN Volunteer, Rachid made sure each asylum seeker had fair access to the application procedure. He also reported on cases of mistreatment of migrants and refugees.

  

I see migrants and refugees as people rather than numbers or statistics. I am proud that as a UN Volunteer with UNHCR, I could hear their stories and achievements, and was part of their paths. It is never a choice to be a refugee. It can happen to each one of us.

 

-Rachid Ouaich

One of the most touching stories Rachid recalls is a mother he helped reunite with her two children in their teens. Such successes keep him going. Children, singles, elderly – since 2014, UNHCR received 39,352 total asylum applications in the Western Balkans.

The work of Rachid has been instrumental to guarantee regular access to the asylum procedure by asylum seekers speaking Arabic, French, Berber or English. In the context of the registration of applications for asylum, Rachid has also been assisting staff with regard to persons speaking other languages, in particular Farsi. He has demonstrated empathy and highly developed social skills in dealing with asylum seekers and refugees and their needs and questions.

-Kristina von Petersdorff, Protection Officer with UNHCR

Showvik Das Tamal (Bangladesh) joined UNHCR in Albania in 2021 as a UN Volunteer Associate External Relations Officer. She was driven by her desire to help partnership building and resource mobilization for refugees.

I worked with the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh for the last seven years and wanted to contribute to other UNHCR operations with the experience and knowledge I acquired from one of the largest refugee responses in the world.

–Showvik Das Tamal

Showvik believes that more and more young people should engage themselves to build a positive and humane narrative for the refugees and asylum seekers, as more than one per cent of the global population is forcibly displaced today.

At UNHCR, our job is to create a world where our job is no longer required. Here in Albania, we are working jointly with the government to reform policy structures to make them more inclusive of refugees and vulnerable people at large. None of us is safe until everyone of us is safe. Inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers within the national COVID-19 vaccination programme is one such example.

–Showvik Das Tamal

Aleksandra Andjelic, national UN Volunteer Youth Engagement Officer with UNICEF Serbia works with diverse youth groups. Her educational background, blending an MA in International Cooperation and Development and BA in Journalism, drove her to pair communication with social action.

With her UNICEF Serbia team, Aleksandra reached out to mobilize vulnerable young people, including those on the move,. Her assignment also brought working on youth focus group discussions, consultations through the U-Report platform, engagement through the national volunteering platform, involving youth and the UNICEF Youth Advisory Board into the dialogue with stakeholders.

We enable young people’s initiatives through skill building programmes, where youth engage their communities. I love seeing them grow as their ideas roll out, be it an eco-camp or a community youth info service.

 

-Aleksandra Andjelic

Aleksandra participated in piloting programmes that provide youth with opportunities for joint problem solving and teamwork. Under UNICEF’s global flagship initiatives UPSHIFT and Generation Unlimited, in-community and virtual boot camps and mentorship were offered, with thirty youth teams reaching 18,000 peers and leading the development of their neighbourhoods for a cleaner environment, mental health support and better access to youth-tailored information and services.

These programmes represent a unique tool to bring youth together in new and mixed teams, to create space for their innovation and activism, such as Just Human team’s youth-led initiative to boost intercultural understanding between migrants and the local community in Sid. By working with mentors, the team learned the basics of project implementation: how to identify needs and the target audience, how to detect root causes and monitor the impact of their activities. They have spread awareness about the key needs of diverse groups, but also brought them together by organizing a sports tournament and handicrafts fair, thus paving the way for more interaction, spending more time together and bridging communities.

What I value the most is being exposed to diverse stakeholders and the opportunity to enhance my communication, strategic thinking and project management skills. For me, volunteering is a universal way to build both your community and yourself.

 

-Aleksandra Andjelic

“Being a part of humanitarian activities resonates in my heart and makes me feel happy and satisfied,” says Admira from Sapna near Tuzla, a young leader in her community.

Admira is just one of many young people from the central part of Bosnia who, during the COVID-19 crisis, volunteered their time and skills helping migrants, refugees, children, and all of those who have been made vulnerable by the health crisis.

“I think that honesty, selflessness, and empathy are the qualities that push a person to become a part of such activities. I wish to believe that I possess these,” Admira adds.

With the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, World Vision BiH suspended all its programme activities, redirecting its funds and human capital to work on the prevention of the disease and its consequences. World Vision mobilised its capacities worldwide and started providing protective gear, disinfectants, hygiene items, and food to the most vulnerable families, as well as to institutions that are meeting their needs.

Although this period is risky for both young people and their family members, World Vision BiH has reduced the risk by ensuring that volunteers are the first to receive protective equipment, and that information on how to protect themselves is always available.

Bego, Ferid, Dino, Samir, Zerina, Almira, Adin, Merima, Admira, Isak, Alen, Muamer, Almedina, Selina, Ramo, Selmir, and Narcis are young volunteers who distributed hygiene, food packages, and any necessary medication to vulnerable groups. They also provided first aid to migrants and refugees, visited children with disabilities, and helped school-age children with their homework.

They didn’t forget the larger communities in which they live, either, distributing face masks and disinfectants, engaging in conversation with concerned citizens, and doing whatever else they could to limit the spread of fear and panic.

“I gathered my courage primarily thanks to what I feel in my heart, and that is the love to help someone and not to give up what I am fighting for,” says Merima, a long-time volunteer from Kalesija, near Tuzla. “At a time when there is a shortage of volunteers at the front, despite the risk, I am ready to help anyone who needs help!” Allen from Lukavac explains as he packs packages for families in need.

In the first weeks of the pandemic, young people worldwide found themselves in an unusual situation: school classes were suspended, maintaining social distance became a must, and a curfew was introduced. These prevention measures kept them away from their friends, and in BiH, young people were hearing older people equate the current situation with the war.

Knowing that young people felt fear and felt exposed during the crisis, World Vision organized online chats for young volunteers providing space for sharing their feelings and concerns. “I could not be calm knowing that someone cannot pick up medication or buy food. I was not brave! I felt fear, like everyone else, but I was determined in my intentions,” says Samir from Kalesija, during one of these sessions.

Putting their fear aside, these young volunteers did what they thought best: they put their skills and time at the disposal of the needy, proving that they were mature enough to act reasonably in a time of crisis. They joined teams of volunteers of institutions that worked day and night so that no one in the community would feel neglected.

“Nothing will come of nothing, and I don’t want to be the one to just watch,” says Ferid from Kalesija as he and his colleague, Muamer, make a plan for the distribution of protective equipment provided by World Vision BiH. “The team I work with gives me the motivation to go forward. Guided by the principles of humanity, Ferid and I are always available to help the population of our municipality, no matter the crisis,” he says.

World Vision is an organization that has been investing in young people for years, building their capacities so that they can lead the activities and projects that benefit their communities. By investing in their skills and knowledge, teaching them about volunteerism and social responsibility, World Vision BiH creates a humane society in which vulnerable children, their families, and other people in need are protected.

“In situations like this, one must behave like a human!” says Almira from Kalesija, whose seemingly endless positive energy and warm smile provided comfort for people in isolation. “I tried to make it easier for the citizens to spend their days in isolation,” she said, explaining that visiting families in remote places meant that they did not feel lonely, forgotten, or neglected.

These young people have shown great courage, overcoming their fears to make a difference in the world. And by allowing themselves to grow, they improved the well-being of the people of their communities.

These may seem like small steps, but for our communities, they’ve made a huge difference.

So thank you for being our heroes!