One particular day, during our informal chat, she revealed her story about her being with and among us. She was looking for an opportunity to visit Nepal. She saw an advertisement in local Canadian Newspaper seeking an Occupational Therapist, willing to travel to Nepal and work for a Canadian funded project in villages surrounding Kathmandu. The compensation plan was excellent i.e. paid return ticket, accommodation and handsome stipend. Without wasting a second she applied for and got selected!

I was shocked. Suddenly everything including my perception and admiration got shattered. That was not volunteerism. That was merely selfishness. She was here just to fulfill her desire, not to volunteer. A moment before she was my idol, now she became dwarf in my thought. Unaware of my emotions she was as passionate as before. She left Nepal after a few months completing her assignment.

To my amazement, after 4 years I got an email from her. She told me that she is now a CEO of a rehabilitation firm in Canada and expressed her willingness to help the same project that we nurtured before here in Nepal. Are you still there? She asked. My answer was “YES” I am here where you left me. The only difference is the project has gone and I am struggling to meet my two ends. I believe the above example clearly shows the difference of understanding and consequences regarding the volunteerism. Selfless desire (Now onwards I’ll use the word willingness) was there in both of our perceptions, only the execution was different. Willingness to involve self in any job is volunteerism.

Volunteerism and Professionalism