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Civic Engagement

The many activities you can participate in to make your community a better place to live, plus related Whittemore Library resources.

Volunteer!

Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization. It is the principle of donating time and energy towards a greater cause. Volunteers help change the lives of those in their community as a social responsibility rather than receiving a financial reward.

Hay, K. (2023, March 29). What Is Volunteerism? A Guide to the History & Benefits. Bloomerang. https://bloomerang.co/blog/what-is-volunteerism-a-guide-to-the-history-benefits/
 

There are many ways to volunteer; many of you may have volunteered in your communities already, before coming to FSU  Don't stop now!  And if you haven't yet - consider it - you'd be surprised at how you can make a difference.

Volunteer-Matching Organizations

Volunteer/Service Opportunities at FSU

Local Volunteer Opportunities

State-wide Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities with National Organizations

Online Volunteering Opportunities

 

A woman using a phone next to a man using a laptop
Run Simulations on Your Computer Projects
  • CERN: Large Hadron Collider at Home  Volunteer computer for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). "Volunteer computing with us allows you to get involved with LHC physics without actually having to be a physicist. Of course, we can explain the really deep physics to you... or if you prefer to keep it light and just enjoy the fact you can contribute and may even be cited in a paper for your help... we'd love you to join us with whatever you want contribute!"

 

woman working on laptop
Help Researchers Identify and Expose Human Rights Violations Projects
  • Amnesty Decoders  Use your computer or phone to help Amnesty International researchers sift through pictures, information and documents.

 

woman workig on mac desktop
Translation Projects
  • Translators Without Borders Provide language support to local and global organizations, helping bridge communication gaps between them and people living through a crisis – and beyond. Ccontribute significantly to making information accessible, inclusive, and useful to people who need that information in their language.

'Voluntourism' - Ethical, or Merely Performative?

  • Voluntourism is travel that combines vacation and volunteering. It includes short-term programs that typically focus more on the experience of participants, versus the actual impact they leave on the communities in need.
  • Both voluntourism and volunteering abroad are no strangers to criticism. Most criticism is aimed towards volunteers who simply travel abroad to fill gaps in their resume, enhance their college application, or feel that it is their duty to "give back" to lower-income communities.
  • It's important to reflect on why you want to volunteer abroad and how you can ensure your volunteer program truly benefits others.

-What’s the Difference Between Volunteering Abroad and Voluntourism? | Go Overseas. (2021, October 28). https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-voluntourism-and-volunteering