How to volunteer in Nigeria

You may decide to offer yourself to improve the lives of the people without waiting for the government to help out. People and communities donate money to fix roads that would usually be the duty of the local government.

When considering ways to volunteer in Nigeria, the main areas to think of are healthcare, education, technology and infrastructure, even though aid is always needed in all parts of a society.

These key areas of support usually yield the most tangible returns from goodwill investment, due to the country’s overpopulation.

As soon as you have identified the capacity within which you would like to volunteer, look for nonprofit organizations that are actively working on smaller community levels. For you to get your aid closer to the people who need it, you must direct your volunteer endeavours towards grassroots movements.

There are many ways you can volunteer in Nigeria, but before then let me explain the word “volunteer”.

A volunteer is “a person who expresses a willingness to undertake a service, according to Merriam Webster. Being a volunteer means that you are offering something that is not obligated on you.

You do not volunteer because of money, prize or recognition, but for the sake of bringing a gleam of hope to those in rural areas. You volunteer when you understand you are helping the society; when you see that your time is worth it; when you believe that you are capable of stirring change and making progress; and capable of doing good.

You should always consider social responsibility as a driving force when it comes to volunteerism, and also think of empathy as an essential attribute.

Online volunteering gives you an opportunity to practice your skills, learn about other countries and contribute to sustainable development while staying at home. A lot of people are involved in virtual volunteering because of a disability, time constrains or home-based obligations.

How to Become a UNV Volunteer in Nigeria

You can visit the UNV website and register to be a UNV volunteer. The UNV website is www.unv.org.

UNV positions are advertised in local newspapers, and candidates for national UNV positions are identified by Country Office Teams or Host Agencies in the country of assignment.

UNV Profile

These include:

• Having university degree in a technical field.
• Having minimum of two years of professional work experience for NUNVs and five years for IUNVs in the relevant area.
• Not being younger than 25 years.
• Having good command of one of the UN languages.

Others ways you can volunteer through UNVs online

There are other ways you can volunteer through UNVs online, and these include:

• Visit UNVs online website: http://www.onlinevolunteering.org and you will find home-based and free-of-charge work. Volunteers and developmental organizations are linked to collaborate online for peace and development by the UNV Online Volunteering service.
• On UNVs online website, development organizations post their online volunteering opportunities.
• Individuals who are interested in the scheme discover opportunities that suit their skills, interests and expertise, and submit their applications directly to the organizations which select the volunteers they would like to engage in their activities.

How to Get Employed as a UNICEF Volunteer

UNICEF is a program that operates under the United Nations Volunteer (UNV), and recruits volunteers for assignments throughout the United Nations system.

To be eligible for entry into the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) program, you need to have an undergraduate degree, several years of work experience, and you must be interested in long-term volunteer opportunities in developing countries.

UNICEF volunteer opportunities are offered through the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. They don’t, however, recruit volunteers directly. UNICEF National Committees in other industrialized countries can also provide information on volunteer activities for their respective citizens.

For US-based volunteer opportunities throughout the United States, you can contact the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for information on volunteer opportunities. The mailing address is: United States Fund for UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, N.Y. 10038.

You may contact the UNICEF National Committee in your country for further information, if you are a national of an industrialized country. You should also know that UNICEF doesn’t provide scholarships, fellowships or grants.

Guide to Volunteering in Nigeria

Though Nigeria has one of the worst rates of poverty and unemployment, the country is one of the wealthiest nations in Africa due to the resources of oil.

International charities have been working in Nigeria for years with the intention to improve living conditions and infrastructure. Most programs run in union with local authorities and government, and there will usually be a team of international staff working with you.

Conditions of Service

The main benefit of being a UNV volunteer is the personal satisfaction the volunteer obligation brings to you as you make a positive impact on peace and development, and UNV volunteering further improves your personal experience.

During your assignment, the following will guide and support you:

• Paid at the beginning of the assignment is Settling-in-Grant calculated on the duration of assignment.
• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) that covers basic living expenses and is paid each month.
• Travel on appointment and at the end of assignment as applicable;
  Life, health and permanent disability insurance;
  Annual leave.
• Paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment is Resettlement allowance that is calculated based on the duration of assignment.

Conclusion

Lots of NGO’s are working to improve the welfare of all the areas of the Nigerian society, ranging from children, women, rural communities and impoverished rural towns and villages. These organizations are usually underfunded and understaffed with no other help, despite the fact that Nigeria has one of the strongest economics on the continent.

There are a lot of volunteer programs in the country that welcome people with various skills to apply, and in the process of application experience is vital. Check out coastal cities and towns for relaxed destinations.

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