reportage
Being a volunteer during the pandemic The situation we live in has been changing the way we are used to communicating, learn, and even how to behave outdoors. It has also worsened social inequalities. Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, all sectors were affected globally and were forced to take measures. Volunteering was no different. This sector was also heavily impacted and had to adapt differently according to the type of volunteer work.
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he pandemic and its restrictions brought difficulties to help others considering that in-person volunteering activities can no longer be held, where the volunteer had to move around places and be in close contact with people to accomplish their assignment.
To maintain the volunteer work, some organizations that couldn’t keep the activities that needed to be in person, adapted them to the digital form. This strategy was crucial for the continuity of some volunteering projects. Maria, a 19-year-old volunteer, says that the pandemic won’t discourage her from
continuing to do what she enjoys: volunteering with animals. Andreia is new to volunteering, but she believes that all assistance is needed, especially now.
How volunteer work changed With the elderly
The Portuguese organization V.O.U., which assists isolated elders in Porto, had to suspend the regular visits. Instead, the volunteers work digitally. Weekly calls are now the only way to combat the elder’s isolation since they are a highrisk group. Andreia is an 18-year-old Portuguese volunteer who joined an initiative between several Viseu colleges. She is an environment volunteer and she also assists the isolated elderly by a phone call or a video call. This initiative organizes volunteering walks, while they also pick up garbage.
18 - VOICES
There are also donations of books, toys, clothes, and more. It is mandatory to use masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. Andreia says, “There are a lot more isolated people who need basic assets, due to the economic decline”. She feels that, probably, the environment has improved because of a major disinfection concern. “Every honest and humble help that we provide is already gratifying”, shares the youngster. Since the pandemic started, she has felt the obstacles of it every day: “It is harder to help, with all the rules and obstacles that we have, but carefully we can reach to someone who needs our help”. When it comes to donations, they are made in every college and, after that, they are taken to the Catholic University of Viseu to disinfect everything.
