Volunteering is when you work for free to help other people or animals. It can be a few hours a week, or a few months full-time. Many students volunteer in the summer holidays. In September, 2023, a group of scientists studied 1,000 students who volunteered for four weeks. The results were very positive.
Happier
After the four weeks, the students said they were happier than before. About 80% of them said they felt more energetic and less stressed. They told their parents they wanted to continue to volunteer.
More Friends
The students made new friends and improved their communicating skills while they were volunteering. Sixty-five percent of the students said they met some great people. Fifty percent said they would stay in touch with their new friends.
Less Pressure and More Helpful
The students' parents were happy with the results too, because they felt their children were easier to live with. One parent said, "My girl Lily didn't spend all her time on her phone after the voluntary work. She started to help around the house." Another parent said, "Tom wasn't worried about his exams anymore. I think he's going to do better because of that."
More studies show us the benefits of volunteering. A study by United Health Group, in January, 2024 found that people who volunteered for more than 200 hours in a year had fewer health problems like heart disease and high blood pressure. Maybe we'll all be volunteering when we're 100 years old!
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