The Shift in Perspective on Volunteering

Initially, volunteering felt pointless to Rachel Cohen, who believed that individual efforts would not bring about significant change in the face of systemic issues. Influenced by prominent discussions around climate change and social movements, she dismissed the impact of volunteering, thinking it was a distraction from necessary larger-scale reforms. This mindset resonated with many of her peers, particularly her generation and Gen Z, leading to a decline in volunteering participation among young people. However, after introspection and realizing the personal disconnect from her community, Rachel changed her outlook, recognizing the importance of contributing to society, no matter how small those contributions may seem.