10 Virtual Volunteering Opps to Make an Impact
The world of volunteering has changed drastically over the past few years. From spending time at food shelters to building houses, volunteering typically used to mean physically going somewhere to do something. Today, volunteering can be as simple as donating your time and skills with your fingertips—thank you, internet!
With virtual volunteering, there are so many opportunities in a multitude of different forms like research, data entry, mentoring, and more. There’s a virtual volunteering opportunity out there for everybody. Here are 10 unique ways that you can make an impact with virtual volunteering:
1. Hire Heroes USA
Whether you’re experienced in a certain industry or field, or can assist with mock interviews or career counseling, thousands of veterans and military spouses could use your energy and expertise! A majority of Hire Heroes USA’s volunteer opportunities are done by phone or video, and their team will work with you to find what fits into your schedule.
2. Instant Wild
You don’t have to be a scientist to assist with research! Instant Wild provides live images from cameras all around the world—all you have to do is tag the animal species in the photo to help with conservation research. Wild, right?
3. Be My Eyes
Every day, blind and low-vision people struggle with daily tasks. Be My Eyes is a free app that allows sighted volunteers to lend their eyes to help solve tasks for those needing sight support, allowing them to live more independent lives.
4. Translators without Borders
If you are fluent in at least one language other than your native language, this one is for you! You can translate for humanitarian and development organizations worldwide, allowing people to get crucial information and be heard, whatever language they speak.
5. Translate for TED
Have you ever watched a TED Talk? Hopefully, you have, and if you haven’t yet, we highly suggest checking them out. This is another opportunity for those of you who are bilingual. You can volunteer to translate TED Talks to enable their inspiring ideas to be available in other languages for people around the world.
6. Smithsonian Digital Volunteering
Are you a lover of all things history? You can help the Smithsonian make historical documents and biodiversity data more accessible by transcribing field notes, diaries, ledgers, logbooks, photo albums, manuscripts, historic audio recordings, and more.
7. Zooniverse
Zooniverse is a platform for people-powered research. You can help contribute to the understanding of our world, our history, our Universe, and more by answering simple questions about data gathered by researchers.
8. iCouldBe
With iCouldBe, you can guide, coach, and support a child to find success in school and plan for their future. It’s as simple as setting aside one hour per week to make a difference in their life.
9. eBird
Calling all bird lovers! With eBird, you can log your bird sightings to contribute to conservation decisions and peer-reviewed papers, and help inform bird research around the world.
10. CareerVillage
CareerVillage is an online community where students can get free career advice from real-life professionals. You can volunteer to answer questions from students who want to be you when they grow up! How cool is that?
