10 Ways to Volunteer Online and Do Good From Home During COVID-19
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
We are in the midst of an unprecedented challenge, united against a common invisible enemy. At this time, many of us may feel the urge to do something to help out, but social distancing rules prevent us from coming into contact with others and even just leaving our house. And while donating is another way to contribute, many are not in a position to do so due to the global financial situation now. Fortunately, modern technology allows us to make good use of our skills and do good from home no matter where we are in the world, whether it’s in the form of translating, playing games or counseling via text.
1. Play puzzle games to find cures
Fold.it is an online puzzle game where players can work individually or in teams to fold protein structures in innovative ways for the highest score. Proteins are not only the building blocks of life and the human body, they are found in many diseases. By pairing human insight with computational power, scientists could grasp a deeper understanding of the ways proteins can fold and create ground-breaking cures. No former background in science is required as everything will be explained in-game; and who knows, you may even be the chosen one to create a new cure!
2. Donate your CPU runtime
On the other hand, those who wish to help with finding cures but don’t fancy puzzle games could simply donate their CPU runtime by running a software in the background. Both Folding@home and Rosetta@home are computational programs that run protein simulations to gather research on COVID-19, Alzheimer’s, cancer and more. These programs only use your idle computer processes, so don’t worry about having your battery drained in this simple act of volunteering.
3. Shop using Amazon Smile
Another effortless way to help out is this little-known online shopping feature. Amazon Smile is a separate website that is identical to your usual Amazon in every way, except that users could now donate 0.5% of their purchase price to a charity of their choice. It’s super easy to set up, and there are no extra costs involved either so the next time you buy something off Amazon, purchase it through smile.amazon.com and bookmark the page for future use.
4. Record audiobooks
While you and I may take being able to read for granted, there are many out there who are not able to due to physical or learning disabilities, as well as other challenges. Recording audiobooks would make books accessible to a lot more people, and all you need is your voice and a computer. Sign up on LibriVox today to record any public domain book of your choice in any language.
5. Translate
For those fluent in more than one language, Translators Without Borders is the perfect place for you to use your skill for social justice. This nonprofit connects volunteers to various humanitarian and development agencies worldwide, so you could be translating anything from COVID-19 PSAs to humanitarian aid documents for the European refugee crisis to educational materials in Kenya. Even if you are monolingual, there are periodic openings for other roles such as project manager, fundraisers, graphic and web designers.
6. Counselling others via text
During this crisis, the present is often anxiety-inducing, and the future uncertain. For many, this means that their emotion and mental health will take a dive. If you’re up to it, you could sign up to be a volunteer counsellor, undergo some training and chat with anonymous users seeking emotional support via text. 7 Cups provides volunteers with free training on active listening and allows them to control their own availability, the Crisis Text Line is more stringent and requires volunteers to have a US social security number, submit two references and dedicate four hours per week.
7. Volunteer for the UN
Ever wanted to work for the United Nations (high school MUN days, anyone?) Well, here’s your chance to do so in a voluntary, remote manner. This UN volunteering platform provides a variety of opportunities to help out with UN entities and other NGOs, including event organization, academic research, technology development, editing, teaching and more. There’s something from every region to fit anyone’s skill sets, and the hours of commitment required per week are flexible too.
8. Teach English and other skills
Education is extremely important for social mobility, a higher quality of living, personal development and so much more, but it remains a basic right many in the world still lack. You can use your time to help address this global problem through the many volunteer remote teaching out there, whether it’s teaching refugees in Europe, rural children in China or India, or around the world. Most of these organizations are looking for people to teach English, though there are other topics in need of covering as well, such as teaching artistic or athletic hobbies to children with chronic illness. Just think of how much Khan Academy has helped all of us!
9. Write cards to support cancer patients
It’s like paying a hospital visit with all the love involved, but virtually. At Chemo Angels, volunteers can choose between short-term and long-term options to encourage and love on a cancer patient by periodically sending them cards or small gifts. There is also a prayer team for those who are religious.
10. Call your grandparents
Especially if they don’t live with you, your grandparents and the elderly can get lonely, especially during this period of time when all visitations are practically canceled. So give them a call and check up on them, it never hurts to let them know how much you love them. This goes for any acquaintances or friends too!
Conclusion
There are so many more opportunities out there, from micro-volunteering platforms that looks for a wide variety of skills, to a bunch of more skill or cause-specific ones. The main point is that wherever you are, even during this chaotic, scary time of apparent isolation, we are not impotent, so cheer up and start making a change.
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