Shabnam Hilal
17 December 2019
Shabnam Hilal studied at Bishop's College Colombo. She will be pursuing Law at the University of Colombo. She is currently employed at the Centre for Poverty Analysis as a Research Assistant. She is also serving as the Secretary of the Rotaract Club of Colombo Uptown. She is passionate about Transitional Justice, Literature and International Affairs.
People who are unemployed or facing other challenges are often thought about in terms of what they cannot do, instead of giving them equal time to think about what they can offer. Quite often they have amazing sets of skills and experiences and are truly inspiring individuals who have learned how to overcome their limitations. It is important to constantly remind ourselves that the core of inclusion is recognizing the capabilities and not the employment status of individuals.
Suitable volunteering positions
When designing a suitable volunteer position, it must be kept in mind that volunteers might be unavailable as soon as they find a job. In fact, they are obliged to do so if they are receiving social welfare payments. When designing the roles, offer flexible volunteer roles that will fit their new work schedule with minimal levels of responsibility.
Barriers to inclusive volunteering
There are many barriers that prevent inclusive volunteering from occurring more often:
The following questions may help when planning appropriate roles for unemployed volunteers: