“Volunteering has been integral to my ability to connect with a community. It was natural for me to get more involved in Photographers Without Borders because it made such a difference for me when I participated in the online Storytelling School. I wanted to grow as a photographer and storyteller, and the key to that growth was taking on a role that would allow me to contribute to the community by using my own unique experiences and skills”
Image by Nicole Cyhelka
The 2021 Volunteer Appreciation statement "The Value of One, The Power of Many," beautifully demonstrates both the individual and collective efforts we have seen at Photographers Without Borders over the course of the COVID pandemic. Volunteers from each department—leadership, community and learning, podcast, video, marketing, production, administration and editorial—worked together to develop an action plan that provided resources, online courses, fundraising assistance for community partners and events that amplified the voices of creatives and change makers across the globe. People had a platform to showcase their talents while interacting with like-minded individuals.
By pivoting, PWB became more accessible and furthered its reach to communities across the world. It began the Storytelling for Change series and online Storytelling School for Ethical Photography, Video Storytelling and the Art of Storytelling. The volunteers at PWB were instrumental in putting together the first Storytelling for Change Summit, which brought together a group of expert, diverse storytellers for panel discussions around decolonizing storytelling, the history and ethics of photography, discovering your hidden strengths and rediscovering the role of humanity.
Image by Jessica Marteinson
One pivotal volunteer, PWB Storytelling School Assistant Jessica Marteinson, shares why she decided to join the team and offers tips on what it's like to volunteer for a non-profit:
Why do you choose to volunteer?
Marteinson: I want to give back and support an amazing organization with a global reach. I have the time and skills I can lend to the cause, and I feel a responsibility to do so.
How do you balance your time between being a volunteer and your other responsibilities?
Marteinson: I try to allocate times during the day/week for my volunteer work. Through planning and scheduling, I ensure it fits into my routine.
What is a memorable moment you've had as a volunteer?
Marteinson: It's anytime you can see you've had a positive impact on someone. I often see this in our students at the end of a school program.
What advice would you give to others considering volunteering for an organization?
Marteinson: If your initial reaction to volunteering is that you don't have time, challenge yourself. This may be true if you have a lot of responsibilities. In my case, I considered the time I spent watching TV or using social media, and I realized that I could easily reallocate some time to volunteering. If it's something you want to do, you can make time for it.
What do you enjoy about volunteering? What has been unexpected?
Marteinson: I love being part of a team with a common purpose. What's been unexpected in some sense is the impact you can have, and on whom. When I joined PWB, I had the support that goes out to our community partners in mind. But I've since seen the impact we have on our members and students, which greatly expands PWB's overall reach.
How do you think volunteering connects to building, finding and creating community?
Marteinson: It joins like-minded people together from diverse backgrounds. So it creates a community that might not otherwise come together.
The commitment and dedication of our volunteers will set the tone for upcoming years. Together, we can reimagine the value of a single act and the power of many in order to thrive.
To learn more about PWB and what it's like to become a part of the team, visit our Volunteer page to see which role is right for you.
