One of the valuable things you may find to fill your spare time while on a job hunt, is to volunteer for a variety of different charities. Below, we list three of the top charities to support over 2025 – and the reasons you should keep at it (to destress and for the feel-good factor) when you’re gainfully employed once again. By Vanessa Rogers.
Ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog The Woof Project, currently running from the V&A Waterfront’s Nobel Square, takes the form of a dynamic pop-up mobile dog adoption clinic. Brainchild of Oscars Arc, an NPO born to inspire dog adoption, the project is into its seventh year; and an impressive 4 814 dogs, and counting, have been adopted to date. The NPO is named after Oscar, an adopted dog who travelled around the world with his best friend, Joanne Lefson, visiting 42 countries across five continents in the quest to promote dog adoption. To contribute to the cause, take a pup for a walk from the V&A Waterfront, or even adopt a cutie yourself, go to: https://oscarsarc.org/
Oh, no, it’s Auntie Flow
Driven by IT service management company the EOH Group, and EOH subsidiaries iOCO and EasyhQ, #EmpowerHerFlow campaign, launched in the run-up to International Women’s Day, is taking a stance against period poverty in South Africa. This campaign aims to collect donations of R100 or more to supply girls who can’t afford sanitary pads – and are at risk of missing up to 88 school days per year – each with a pack of five reusable, eco-friendly pads. Of note: these reusable pads are produced by previously disempowered women, all based in Period Poverty manufacturing jobs, in hubs in the provinces of Gauteng and KZN. The campaign donation link for this worthy cause is: www.eoh.co.za/empowerherflow.
What a difference a day makes The Sisanda FunDaytion is premised on the important philosophy of “connecting through play”. Their programmes are known to unite people of different ages and from different cultures, all in the quest to assist children from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop confidence in themselves; curiosity about the world around them; and a playful sense of creativity. Get involved by becoming a volunteer on one, or many, of these fun days – where individuals aged 16 and over, with an energetic spirit and a compassionate heart, are called upon to inspire and act as role models to the young people in their charge. Try “Let the art move you” at the Norval, a “Boomslang stroll” at Kirstenbosch, or what about a carnival in collaboration with those in nurse jobs at St Joseph’s? To get involved or find out more, go to: https://www.sisanda.org.za/
So whether your volunteer work involves dog walking, child care, making a donation, or assisting a vulnerable group in our community with your time and energy, just know that it’s as good for the busy and stressed, as it is for those with time on their hands (i.e. students, or those on a job search). You’ll meet like-minded people, feel happier, gain new skills, and make a valuable contribution to society.
