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1.3 Volunteering for teenagers

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1 Write about it

Look at the photographs of some of the places where young people could do voluntary work. Think about why you would or wouldn’t like to volunteer there. Check your spelling with the check button.

2 Listen

Listen to three teenagers, Kylie, Miranda and Ahim, talking about their experience doing volunteer work.

REPORTER: Welcome to Teenagers in the real world. This evening we are talking to three young people about their voluntary work. Kylie, Miranda and Ahim, welcome!

KYLIE: Thank you!

AHIM: Thank you!

MIRANDA: Thank you!

REPORTER: Let’s start with you, Kylie. What kind of voluntary work do you do and for how long have you been doing it?

KYLIE: I visit children in our local hospital and read them stories or play games with them. Although some have their parents there with them, they like spending some time with somebody new. I have been doing it for two years and I plan to continue doing it as long as I can.

REPORTER: It’s great to hear that, Kylie! What about you, Ahim?

AHIM: I don’t do any volunteer work at the moment, but I am planning to visit people in a retirement home near my home. I have just returned from Kenya where I spent one year. I helped a teacher in a small village school. It was a great experience for me since I had the opportunity to learn something about the culture and the people, I even learned a bit of their language. Children there are so eager to learn and I had a great time with them!

REPORTER: That is so inspiring, Ahim. Thank you for sharing that with us.

REPORTER: And last, but not the least, Miranda. Where do you volunteer?

MIRANDA: First I started volunteering in a kindergarten, but I get on better with animals than kids so I decided to help one of the local farmers who has an organic farm.

REPORTER: So what do you do there?

MIRANDA: I sometimes help feed the animals or do some work in the garden, like planting vegetables or picking fruit like apples or pears from the orchard. I love spending time outdoors so this is a perfect place for me.

REPORTER: How many hours do you usually spend volunteering?

MIRANDA: I usually volunteer at the weekend because I have a lot of homework during the week and I also have to help around the house. I stay at the hospital for 2 or 3 hours, depending on the number of children staying there at that time.

MIRANDA: I also go to the farm at the weekend and I spend the entire day there if the weather is fine, or I stay for a couple of hours in the morning to feed the animals, in case of bad weather.

MIRANDA: When I was in Kenya, I spent all of my time with the children at school and after school I did all the things that other villagers had to do, like bring the water, prepare meals, take care of small children and the likes.

REPORTER: What do you think are the qualities a good volunteer needs to have?

MIRANDA: Well, I think that the most important thing is to be caring and selfless.

MIRANDA: I also think that you need to be hard-working and organised, as well as patient and kind.

REPORTER: I agree with you and admire all that you do, so keep up the good work! Thank you all for coming, I hope that we could talk some other time about your voluntary work.

3 Answer

Listen to the audio recording from the previous task and answer the questions by selecting the right person for each question.

4 Explain

Would you like to do some volunteer work? Think about the reasons for and against volunteering and write them down here using 50 to 70 words.

Check your spelling with the check button.



5 Volunteer programs

Use the following link to find out more about the Best Volunteer Abroad programmes.
Choose the one that you like the most and describe it. Did the article
change your mind about volunteering? Explain it to your partner.

6 Research

Visit the website Volunteer Forever and find out as much as you can about different volunteer programs, choose one and research about the program. Write your down what you have learned (200 to 250 words). Check your spelling with the check button.