How Volunteering Helped Me Reconnect With My Purpose
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to help others.
As a child in my village, every time I heard someone was struggling, my imagination went to work. I dreamed of creating a company that would help people find jobs, or traveling the world to build schools and hospitals, or just creating the space to help others. My imagination was full of action, and generosity!
Life took a different path, and although the desire stayed with me, I never acted on it. I have continued to offer my help to others, but for me it was not enough. And because of that, I felt incomplete.
Then, 40!! years later, something happened that changed everything.
I met Vasco Duarte. He asked a simple question: “Would you like to help organize an online summit?” I had never done that before and I could have easily said no. But I said yes. Without knowing it, he had opened the door I’d been waiting for my entire life. That yes changed everything. Since then, I’ve co-organized and volunteered for seven international conferences, some online, some in person, and each one has been a profound experience. Alongside, I have volunteered for other projects whenever I felt that time allowed me. Volunteering became the path I needed so much. A path which brought me closer to the person I always imagined being as a child.
What Volunteering Has Given Me
Volunteering for these conferences and projects has been a deeply transformative part of my life, and these are the experiences that shaped it:
- Incredible Connections – I’ve met amazing, purpose-driven people: speakers, organizers, attendees, and other volunteers who inspired me with their passion and generosity. Being surrounded by such individuals lifted my spirit and expanded my worldview.
- New Skills & Tools – From event platforms to communication tools, from project management to digital coordination, I’ve learned things I never expected to master, even designing in Canva! Volunteering has been one of the most powerful learning environments I’ve ever stepped into.
- Insights From Global Thinkers – When I help create a space for ideas, I naturally absorb them. The knowledge shared by speakers and participants has shaped my thinking and enriched my life.
- Travel & Discovery – Some conferences took me across borders, into new cultures, new cities, and new energy. Volunteering brought back my old dream of traveling the world while helping others. And yes, some volunteer opportunities even offered travel support or entrance tickets, making it possible for me to experience events or destinations I otherwise could not have attended.
- The Joy of Creating a Space for Others – There’s something uniquely meaningful about building an environment where people can connect, learn, and grow. It’s not just organizing logistics, it’s creating possibilities, generating value for others.
- A Chance to Give Back – This might be the most important part. Volunteering gave me the sense of purpose I had been searching for, and allowed me to give back to the community that has given me so much.
- It’s Fun! – It’s genuinely fun to work with people who share the same vision, goals, and purpose. Sharing laughs with teammates, solving problems together, celebrating small wins, and witnessing the results of our collective effort created memories rooted in joy and meaning.
Why Volunteering Matters
Volunteering is not just an activity, it’s a mindset. It’s choosing to contribute rather than wait.
It’s giving your time where it can create meaning. It’s making a conscious choice to spend less time on the unimportant and more time on what truly matters.
It’s stepping into a community and saying, “I’m here. How can I help?”
Here’s why I believe volunteering is essential:
- It expands your empathy. You understand the challenges others face and learn how much a small action can change someone’s life
- It builds your confidence. You discover strengths you didn’t know you had
- It strengthens communities. Every volunteer effort, big or small, creates ripples of positive impact.
- It enriches your life. Volunteering gives you stories, friendships, knowledge, and unforgettable experiences.
- It reconnects you with purpose. When you give, something shifts inside you. You feel aligned, grounded, and fulfilled.
- It can change someone’s life. Your time, your presence, your encouragement, or your skills might become the turning point in someone’s journey. Sometimes in ways you may never fully realize.
Why I Encourage Everyone to Volunteer
If you’ve ever felt something missing…
If you’ve ever wondered how to contribute…
If you’ve ever wished to meet inspiring people or grow in new ways…
If you want to give back or to pay forward…
If you want to spend more time on what truly matters,
Try volunteering.
Start small if you need to.
Say yes to one opportunity.
Offer your help.
Often, that’s all it takes.
Before you say no, take a moment to ask yourself: What will I miss if I walk away from this chance?
For me, one simple yes, thanks to Vasco Duarte, opened the door to seven conferences, countless connections, deep learning, and a rediscovered purpose.
Volunteering has helped me become the person I dreamed of being as a child.
And who knows, maybe it can do the same for you. Take the first step!
