In 2010, Volunteer Canada conducted a nationwide study to explore the key motivators behind youth volunteering. The results were clear: young people are drawn to volunteer work for a variety of reasons, including career development and exploration, social engagement, and building meaningful relationships. 

However, despite these clear benefits, only 1 out of 5 people under 25 volunteer regularly, with many still in need of encouragement to engage with their communities on a deeper level. Through our Clinton Orr & Jodi Rutta Community Builder Fund, we have the privilege of hearing directly from young scholarship recipients about why they volunteer—and why others should consider doing so as well.

Career Exploration 

Volunteering not only helps you give back to your community but can boost your career prospects and even future salary. A study published in Social Science Research found that individuals who engage in volunteer work are often better positioned to negotiate higher salaries. Furthermore, the Center for Economic and Policy Research reported that volunteers tend to have stronger employment prospects overall. The diversity and variety that you experience through volunteering have the potential to spark new interests and help you discover your strengths.

Building and Supporting Community

Many of the services and programs you access, like the public library, community league sports, and seniors programming can’t function without the time and dedication of volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, be it through packing lunches, organizing a fun run, river valley cleanups, or time spent in an animal shelter, you can play a direct role in supporting the well-being of your community.  

Fill your Bucket

Volunteering isn’t just about helping people—it’s also a powerful way to boost your own sense of worth, fulfillment, and happiness. With burnout, stress, and mental health challenges on the rise, especially among Canada’s youth, volunteering provides you with a unique opportunity to enhance your personal well-being. By aligning your volunteer efforts with causes you care about, you can find motivation and energy in the work to make volunteering a pillar of your adult life. Engaging with those who share your values strengthens your connection to the community, builds a sense of rapport and camaraderie, and often leads to discovering new ways to make an impact. Volunteering in its essence is connecting with others and building bridges. Through your interactions with different parts of the community, you can encounter a wide range of people and broaden your understanding of the diversity that our society has to offer.