Helping through Rotary International

Hello everybody!

I will start this blog with some facts I know about Psychology before I share my Rotaract Journey with you. I find this relatable to all and I hope you will all love to read more of this!

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The Helping Behaviour.

Offering one’s help to others is a natural behavior of humans especially when it is needed at the very moment. According to Psychology, people have a societal obligation to act in a way that benefits the other. With this idea, helping becomes a duty not just for one’s validation but for other people’s sake especially those who need it the most. This is called the Norm of Social Responsibility.

What triggers the helping behavior of a person?

There are actually 5 ways to know before deciding to help.

1. Being aware that someone needs a help.
   Attention is needed here. If you notice that someone is needing some help and if they prompt you then it’s time for you to decide.

2. Concluding that someone really needs a help.
   This is the time of realization. You are now recognizing that someone really needs a help.

3. Identifying the help needed
   Ask what is needed or if it’s obvious then decide if you are capable of doing it.

4. Being responsible of the help
   If you think you are the one needed, then it’s either you decide “To help” or “Not to help”. Your decision is a must.

5. And Lastly- Getting in to offer the help needed.

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I have a situation here explaining why allocating responsibility to a group of people doesn’t work.

One day, there was a jeepney (a means of transportation in the Philippines) with many commuters in it. The driver had noticed an old woman carrying a bagpack and a heavy luggage, so he decided to stop and let her in. While the woman was entering the jeepney, she struggled bringing in her things while no one offered a single help. Some passengers were just watching while some looked another way and took no notice up until she had reached her seat.

From this situation, why do people fail to act and offer some help?

They all have probably seen the woman with her heavy things and an apparent concern was within them but no one seemed to give the help that is needed. This phenomenon in psychology is called “Diffusion of Responsibility” in which an individual feels less responsible for helping because they are too many in the scenario and the person thinks that he or she is not liable to help. There comes that lack of sense of responsibility for they have noticed others, who are also passengers, doing nothing as well. The responsibility is shared to every passenger which makes them less responsible for the help. Meaning, the number of passengers in the scenario has an impact towards one’s decision to help.

Life tip:

Be a genuine helper! Others may be too lazy or way too busy to help but remember how your help means to someone.

As a graduate of Psychology, I have learned some of the many concepts regarding causes of human behavior. It is some kind of usual for us psychology-educated individuals to know what factors may cause the occurrence of a certain behavior. We don’t read minds and predict one’s disposition after being exposed to a stimulus but we can somehow explain why something occurs and what makes it to occur, basing on previous observations and experiments done by psychologists.

I hope you learned something… ;)

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It is said that helping is a human nature. For others to be able to extend their efforts to help, they join organizations whose goal is such; and Rotary International is one of those that strive to give aid and lend a helping hand to others who are in great need.

So, what is Rotary International?

The Rotary international is a global network of adult and young leaders who are geared towards creating a difference in the world through humanitarian services. They created RotaractClub for young leaders who share the same values. Its main purpose is to gather together professional leaders from different countries and cultures to build bridges while making the world a better place to live in for everyone.There are already more than a million people who are members of the said organization.

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One of the programs of Rotary International is the Rotaract- others are Interact, Rotary Youth exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. The Rotaract began in 1968 as “Rotary International Youth Program”. The ultimate purpose of Rotaract is to harness and develop the leadership skills and camaraderie among young ones in their communities. In a collaborative effort to bring peace and understanding around the world, Rotaract clubs take part in international and humanitarian projects.

Rotaract simply means “Rotary in action” and its motto is “Fellowship through service”.

It is always the role of the Rotary to guide and decide to sponsor Rotaract clubs. It becomes their rewarding journey in the long run when they support the projects initiated by Rotaract.

Rotaract Club members are young leaders who are 18-30 years old. The Rotary initiates in bringing them together and they work hand-in-hand to create projects for the community and develop their skills through different training programs. Same with the Rotary Clubs, Rotaract clubs manage their own club, plan their activities and raise their own funds. Rotary Clubs are the ones who will guide them as their partners in service.

I am a member of Rotary International and the current President of our club- the Rotaract Club of Iligan Maria Cristina. I have been serving and volunteering for 3 years already and I have learned a lot from it.

These are some of our activities for the past years.

Rotary Club of Iligan Maria Cristina in partnership with Rotary Club of Oshkosh "Feeding program and Distribution of school supplies and Turn over of relief goods to IDP's of Marawi Siege (Tabang sa Marawi)

ABAG Project- a relief drive for the victims of Marawi Siege @ Moneerah Integrated School.

A 3-month long feeding program at Bagong Silang Elementary School, in celebration of the month of Nutrition.

I will be sharing more of my Rotaract Journey on my next blog. I hope you had fun reading this one. Keep posted!

References:
https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/helping-others/

https://www.rotary.org/

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