The debate over whether requiring the youth to take part in voluntary work comes with more benefits or drawbacks is a contentious one. While there are irrefutable advantages, making volunteer work mandatory for these people brings about more substantial negative implications.
Admittedly, obligated charitable job could offer a multitude of profits for both the individuals themselves and society. It is obvious that by partaking in some charities, the partakers could tap into the opportunities to acquire several fundamental life skills as well as hands-on experience, which would play a supplementary role to their later lives and professional careers. For instance, volunteers are usually asked to give public speeches, which partly contribute to enhancing communication skill, an essential skill of not only a well – rounded individual but also the prioritized recruitment criteria of almost conglomerates. Furthermore, social welfare could be maximized if the young adults have to be volunteers in a certain time period. This is due to the fact that national budget would not be overburden, thus it could be allocated to public services and infrastructure, resulting in higher living standards. America, known for its highest p World Giving Index, provides its residents with the best social welfare.
On the other hand, others, myself included, put the more concern on the demerits that make the aforementioned merits tenuous. In spite of gaining necessary ability, the volunteers could lose sufficient time to relax. Hence, exposure to a hectic schedule could induce exhaustion and stress which pose a threat to their mental health. Additionally they can also be exploited by the for-profit organizations to cater their purposes. Thanh Cong which is a Vietnamese food company, serves as a prime example of taking advantage of people voluntarily performing community services as they asked the young participants to distribute flyers to raise public health; however, those flyers contain their advertisements with an aim to increase their sales instead. Consequently, this incident sparked an uproar from the public.
In a nutshell, I do believe voluntary job should not be made as an obligation, in spite of its marginal positive impacts.