HOW ONE MAN MADE A DIFFERENCE

Swiss businessman Henry Dunant, at the age of 31, was already a successful businessman. At the time, France was fighting with the Italian army in a war against Austria. However, he needed the help of Napoleon Ⅲ for one of his business deals. Dunant knew that Napoleon Ⅲ would be with his army in northern Italy, so he travelled to the city of Solferino to look for him.

Dunant arrived on the night of 24 June and found a battlefield filled with 40,000 dead and wounded soldiers. Dunant was horrified by the scene and was filled with compassion for the wounded men. At once, Dunant began attending to the wounded men. In the days that followed, he led local people in helping take care of the wounded and dying. They looked after the soldiers without regard to country or uniform, saying, “All are brothers!”

When Dunant returned to Switzerland the following month, he wrote a book about his experience called A Memory of Solferino. Within the book, he described the battle, its costs, and the chaotic circumstances afterwards. He also developed the idea that in the future, a neutral organization should exist to provide care to wounded soldiers. Dunant began to travel through Europe to distribute the book and promote his ideas. His book was largely positively received. This eventually led to the forming of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863.

The first act of the Red Cross was to organize an international conference (the Geneva Convention) where countries adopted guidelines and measures for protecting the wounded and medical workers during and after battles. While the Red Cross is mostly tasked with helping people in times of war, it also responds to natural disasters and gives aid to people who have to leave their homes. For example, the Red Cross provided aid and relief after the May 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan, China.

Dunant himself gave up everything to save the world. His business failed because he was too busy with his work in the Red Cross. Then Dunant had to leave the Red Cross because of a personal conflict. Despite this, he continued to work as a volunteer, helping provide relief to people caught up in war. In the end, he lost all his money, fell ill, and had to be taken in by a charity. By this time, the Red Cross had become famous, but he was mostly forgotten. In the last years of his life, though, he was discovered by a newspaper reporter. From then on, he was celebrated around the world as the man responsible for saving many thousands of lives. Though he is long gone, his spirit continues with us until this day.

People take up volunteering for different reasons. 【小题1】. Whatever the reason, once you have decided that you would like to give some of your time to help others, you need to make some decisions.

Choose a charity or organization

Firstly, what sort of organization do you want to help? 【小题2】— perhaps you have been affected by some of the issues that a charity aims to support, like children who need help. Many local schools depend on volunteers who come in regularly to read with the children or help with their math.

【小题3】

Once you have decided where you want to volunteer, you then have to decide what sort of volunteer work you want to do. Think about your existing skills: Do you prefer hands-on work? Are you good with people? Do you have a background in administrative (行政) work? Charities need volunteers to work in shops, organize or manage fundraising (筹款) events, or, in the case of animal charities, walk dogs.

Find a position

Most charities have a website with a section aimed at attracting potential volunteers and they advertise specific roles available. But smaller charities might not have funds (资金) to do this. 【小题4】. You will be welcomed with open arms!

Apply for suitable positions

Be prepared with information about your previous (or current) employment and the sort of skills you have, so that the charity can match you to the most suitable role. You might think that you have no such skills. Don't let your lack of confidence stop you. 【小题5】.

Are you looking for teen volunteer opportunities that provide a rewarding experience for high school students to be completely involved in new cultures while giving back to communities around the world? Whether you’re looking for volunteer opportunities for high school students, mission trips for teens, or teen summer service trips, International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) enables teen volunteers to give back on meaningful community development and conservation projects in destinations like Bali, Costa Rica, Portugal and more.

Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Bali

IVHQ’s Sea Turtle Conservation project is on the small but breathtaking island of Nusa Penida off the southeastern coast of Bali. Volunteers will gain experience in turtle care and marine conservation while helping to increase the population of these incredible creatures in Indonesia.

Animal Care Volunteer Project in Costa Rica

IVHQ’s Animal Care project sets volunteers up to assist at veterinary clinics (兽医诊所) and animal welfare programs that aim to re-home abandoned or stray (流浪的) animals. Volunteers gain experience caring for animals while helping to provide them with medical treatment, companionship and playtime so they are ready to find their forever homes.

Environmental Scuba Diving Volunteer Project in Portugal

IVHQ’s Environmental Scuba Diving project is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to assist with marine conservation efforts in Portugal. Volunteers gain scuba and environmental protection experience while learning about the challenges marine ecosystems face and what can be done to help overcome them.