亚洲通

　　作为一个年轻人，你是否也在关注着志愿活动？年轻人参与志愿活动，有着各种不同的理由和动机——

　　Volunteering can help you to explore your interests

焕发热情

　　Volunteering can be an opportunity to learn more about something you enjoy doing. If you like working with kids, get involved ata summer camp or help younger students with their schoolwork. If you like to cook, make dinner for the families at a soup kitchen or help out at a homelessshelter. Or if you enjoy playing sports, play games with the kids at aneighborhood center. Look for opportunities that allow you really explore areas that already interest you.

　　志愿活动为你提供亚洲通的机会，去学习你所感兴趣的东西。如果你愿意同孩子们一起工作，可以参加小孩子们的夏令营，或者带着他们一起做家庭作业。如果你是一个厨艺爱好者，那就去救济所下厨，为那些无家可归者做顿晚餐。当然，你也可以在社区中心陪孩子们打打球，做做游戏。总之，活动就会有激情！

　　Meet people you might not ordinarily meet

拓展机遇

　　By volunteering in a group, you'll meet other people with the same interests you have. If your grandparents have passed away or live far away and you don't get to see them often, you can become friends with a senior adult and adopt them as your "grandma" or"grandpa. By volunteering with an agency that helps refugees, you can meet people who have come here from other countries. You'll learn about their culture and help them adapt to life here.

　　人以群居，参加志愿活动可以走近志同道合的人。假若你的祖父母已经去世或者因距离太远无法常常看望，你可以和老人交朋友，把他们当作自己的祖父母来关怀。如果参加帮助避难者的活动，你可以结交来自不同国家的人们，还可以了解各国文化，帮助他们尽快适应这里的生活。

　　Volunteer activities add value to college applications and work resumes

提高品位

　　College admission staffs want to know who you areas a person. They're looking for well-rounded individuals who will give their best both within and outside the classroom. Potential employers want to know if you show up on time, can take direction, are responsible, and work well with others. A good reference from an agency you've volunteered with can help them decide that you'd be a good employee.

　　大学招生老师要了解你是什么样的人，他们倾向于选择学习和其他能力都良好的全面型人才。招聘人员喜欢准时、方向感强、有责任心以及人际关系良好的人才。机构的推荐会让招聘人员相信你是一名优秀的员工。

　　It's fun

乐在其中

　　People who volunteer often say that they get more out of the experience than they give. Giving of your time and energy makes you feel good about yourself and raises your self-esteem. Working with other volunteers builds friendships.

　　志愿者常常说：予人玫瑰，手有余香。时间和精力的付出让人感觉更充实，让人更自信。而且，参加志愿活动能培养深厚的友谊。

　　You're sharing your talents and knowledge with others

自我展示

　　You have skills, talents, knowledge, experience,personality and passion. Each of us is unique and has something to share withothers.

　　你有能力，有天赋，有知识，有经验，有个性，有激情。每个人都是独一无二的，每个人都有自己的特别之处。志愿活动会给你一个展示的平台。

　　You're advancing the common good

促进社会

　　Sometimes we look at the way the world is and think, "This isn't the way things are supposed to be." By volunteering, you can help make a positive change in the world. Each of us wants to live in a community where families are healthy and strong, where children are given the help they need to succeed in school, where people with disabilities and the elderly are able to live as independently as possible, and where people live in safe, supportive neighborhoods.

　　世界是多元的，凡事常常不如人所愿。但无论如何，志愿活动都能给这个世界带来积极的影响。每个人都希望家人身体健康，孩子学业有成，残疾人和老人自力更生，街坊四邻和睦友好、互相帮助。志愿活动就是为此而努力。

　　By volunteering, you help make your community a better place to live, and you become part of the solution.

　　志愿活动让社会更美好，让人们为作为其中的一份子而自豪。

　　12月5日是世界志愿者日，年轻人为什么要参与志愿者活动？为纪念这个不被广为纪念的日子，我从网络上翻译了这篇小文。