A Call to Compassion

When I was thirteen years old, my aunt asked her eldest son to pick up a newspaper on his way home. My cousin returned from work that evening with a Trinidad Express newspaper, and tucked inside was a copy of the Sunday Punch. For those who may not know, the Sunday Punch was a decades-old publication that featured the Caribbean’s music, culture, top party spots, concerts, fetes, and of course, beautiful women. As children, we were told not to look at that newspaper, but my cousin brought it home, and I couldn’t resist. I quickly skimmed the notorious pages showcasing scantily clad women until one article caught my eye.

Perhaps it was because the article seemed out of place that I stopped to read it. The headline read, “Woman and Children Plead for Help.” It was accompanied by a photograph of the woman and her children in torn clothing, standing in front of a small wooden home partially built against a tree. My heart sank. I needed to return the Sunday Punch before anyone asked for it, so I quickly removed the folded page and tucked it away until it was safe to read.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. The image of the mother and her children haunted me, and the next day I frantically began calling the newspaper to track down the reporter. I had no plan. I then met with my close friends at school and shared the article with them. By the end of the day, we were determined to act. Four weeks later, my friends and I accompanied the same reporter to the woman’s home, where we presented her with an abundance of items to help ease her burdens. Shortly after, my team and I appeared in an article in the Sunday Punch, documenting our little project of hope. It was unlikely anyone would have read the article, but it didn’t matter to us because we had stumbled upon something we wanted to continue doing.

In the years that followed, we remained focused on our purpose and vision to make our communities a better place and to improve the world through empathy and acts of selfless service. We became passionate about helping people solve problems and achieve their goals, advocating for how a volunteering community can build a better society.

With each passing year, we worked on charity projects that helped us understand that volunteering increases happiness and improves mental health. Studies have shown that when you stop focusing on your own problems and shift your attention to others, your stress levels decrease. Your immune system strengthens, and your overall sense of satisfaction with life increases. Doing something for someone else interrupts tension-producing patterns, replacing them with a sense of purpose, positive emotions, and higher confidence levels. When people are happy, they create happy environments.

These skills are universal.

According to the Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey conducted in 2016, 92% of corporate executives agreed that individuals contributing their business skills and expertise to a non-profit is an effective way to improve leadership traits and broaden professional skill sets. A significant portion of the volunteer sector is carefully structured as a business model, creating opportunities to enhance teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and people skills. There are also chances to mentor and motivate others, changing their lives for the better.

People volunteer for many reasons, and these reasons vary from person to person. What’s certain is that when you find the right fit, you’ll enrich the lives of others, and your life will be made better by the experience. Empowering others can make your time and participation both rewarding and fulfilling.

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Light-bulb moments happen all the time. A photograph of a destitute mother in the Sunday Punch newspaper, who had no choice but to publicly seek help for herself and her children, left a lasting impression on me. It’s the reason I spend my weekends and personal time working in service to others.

Everyone has the capacity and natural tendency to become a more compassionate human being. A raging worldwide pandemic and a local community in need provide numerous avenues to build a better society. Now more than ever, our world needs people who desire to make a change without the hope of personal reward. It’s time to embrace the power you have to help others and recognize the benefits of volunteering in your life.