Volunteering and online volunteering platforms Commentary by Metin Zamanli, project assistant of the Center for Analysis and Communication of Economic Reforms

Voluntary activity

Volunteering is an unpaid activity based on one's own will and independent choice. Volunteering is a demonstration of patriotism, philanthropy, and hard work. Voluntary services are important in terms of participation in community life, development of life skills, prevention of risky behaviors, integration into different cultures, development of education and benefiting the development of individuals. Based on a survey carried out by the social network "Linkedin", which is widely used in Europe, including Azerbaijan, it was found that 40 percent of business managers consider volunteering experience as a type of activity equal to work experience. According to a survey conducted by the National and Public Service Corporation, young people with volunteering experience are 27 percent more likely to be hired than those without volunteering experience. The results of these surveys are a clear example of how important the volunteer experience is. Volunteering is a very useful way to use your time effectively. By volunteering, you support important issues that lead to fundamental change, grow as an individual, gain valuable work experience, and learn the knowledge and skills essential to developing your career.

Online volunteering platforms

There are many online platforms that allow you to volunteer from home. If you want to spend some of your free time effectively, you can get acquainted with these platforms:

• United Nations Volunteers – International organizations advertise many volunteer programs. The most famous of these is the United Nations Volunteers Program. This program is a worldwide volunteering activity of the United Nations to achieve peace and development. Offering numerous online volunteering opportunities around the world, this program, like other UN programs, aims to achieve sustainable human development. It's easy to find jobs that match your interests on the UN Volunteers website. Thus, the search for available job opportunities can be carried out through appropriate filters for various sectors.

• VolunteerMatch – This matching platform connects non-profit organizations with specialized volunteers and offers them jobs for their projects. Here you can find job opportunities in fields such as culture, art, computer technology, law and medicine. Interested persons can take advantage of available virtual opportunities by choosing the relevant field.

• Create the Good - This platform allows individuals to share their knowledge and skills for charity. The wide range of activity directions available on the platform ensures support in this direction to those who need help in accordance with knowledge and skills. Volunteers have the opportunity to work with veterans and military families, senior citizens, and young people at the same time.

• Be My Eyes - Founded in 2015 to create a more accessible world for visually impaired people. Users of the application can request help in more than 180 languages, and volunteers can lend a helping hand to these people in their daily tasks. All you need to do is download the mobile app and register as a visually impaired person. For example, when a disabled person wants to go somewhere or read any information, a video call is established between him and the volunteer who applied for help on the other side, and appropriate help is provided.

• Do IT - This UK-based platform offers more than 1 million job opportunities to volunteers. While most of the existing initiatives are for local projects, there are also plenty of online volunteering opportunities. It is possible to start working remotely by simply selecting the item 'DO IT FROM HOME' in the search field.

• Catchafire – The platform supports interesting projects and initiatives by connecting volunteers with professional skills and non-governmental organizations in need of expertise. People with limited time can consult the organization as a volunteer and give important advice through the 1-hour phone call mode of the platform. • School in the Cloud - Volunteers with pedagogical skills get the opportunity to undergo their electronic training through the 'School in the Cloud' platform. Parents are also provided with the opportunity to participate in the training for children. The purpose of the platform is to support the learning process and work together with children from all over the world over the Internet to answer the 'Big Questions'.

• Translators without Borders - Platform for non-governmental organizations, development agency