As a young professional changing career paths, I found volunteer work as a great way to boost my resume and gain experience in my field locally in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Literacy Council
This is a great organization dedicated to increasing the level of functional literacy of adults. Increasing literacy rates benefit the entire community. Columbus Literacy Council offers a number of ways to get involved, which is great for those with already busy schedules. Some opportunities include: basic literacy tutoring, ESOL tutoring (great exposure to different cultures!), teacher, classroom assistant, media center volunteer, or office support. They also accept volunteers with special skills such as public relations, speaking, marketing, or graphic design for special projects-in a nutshell, if you are able to contribute, they’ll find something for you.
As a graduate student studying International Education, serving as a TESOL volunteer was an excellent way for me to gain more hands-on qualification. The Literacy Council provides in-depth training for all volunteers so don’t be afraid to try your hand at something new!
Columbus Museum of Art
Recently renovated, the Columbus Museum of Art offers a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from internships to docent. The museum is a non-profit organization, creating great experiences with art for everyone. Volunteer programs at the museum are broken into different groups serving different projects. If you’re unsure which one may be best for you, you can contact the volunteer coordinator or sign-up to be an on call/special projects volunteer. Internships are available through varying museum departments (curatorial, education, development, etc.) for those looking for career-related experience.
The Library Project
Have a complicated schedule? Hosting a fundraising event is a great way to bring people together and spark awareness for a cause. The Library Project is an international organization that hopes to eliminate poverty through the means of education. The organization donates books to underprivileged schools in rural China and will be expanding through other countries in Asia. While most volunteering is done on-site in China, you can help by fundraising (as little as $2,000 USD supports a full library and countless numbers of students) and raising awareness. The organization’s website has easily available material (posters and email flyers) and how-to guides. Tie-in fundraising at your next gathering or child’s birthday party! Be sure to check out the video of a donation at Song Jia Zhai elementary school and share it with others at your event.