Why is micro-volunteering for your Group?

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For many years we have been talking about flexible volunteering and how to provide opportunities for Scout Alumni and Scouting parents to help out at our Groups without long-term commitments or a long paper trail. We are excited to introduce our new Micro-Volunteering initiative!

What is Micro-Volunteering?

Micro-volunteering is a way to engage Scouts SA alumni and external volunteers for fixed term, skill-based tasks. This means that volunteers are not long-term volunteers with SCOUTS South Africa, but rather individuals willing to commit for a certain project and a certain amount of time. These are flexible, low-commitment opportunities where someone with the right expertise can support Scouting in a practical, time-bound way—often remotely. 

To facilitate this,  we have opted to use the ForGood platform to manage and match these opportunities with alumni and external volunteers.

How does it work?

  • You (registered Scout member) fill in the short SSA project request form. 
  • The National Alumni Team reviews the request. 
  • If approved, the project is posted on the ForGood platform by the National Alumni Team. 
  • Scouts SA alumni or external volunteers respond and are connected with us to deliver the task. 
  • You and your Group/Team will then work with the volunteers to deliver the project.  
  • The project is closed and both SCOUTS South Africa and the volunteers rate each other on the experience.  

What do I need to be aware of?

  • Requests should be made at least 3 weeks in advance to give us time to load and advertise the project.  
  • Micro-volunteering projects can be for almost any skill or task – you might need help with e.g. construction, plumbing, creating marketing assets in the SCOUTS SA brand, or starting a nursery.  
  • Micro-volunteers should not be requested for projects involving one-on-one access with our young people. Projects should be short term only. This initiative does not permit long-term volunteer requests as that implies working with our young people, and then SCOUTS South Africa’s Safe from Harm Framework applies.  
  • Micro-volunteering requests will be visible to former Scouts (alumni) as well as external volunteers, including corporate citizenship volunteers. Try and phrase your request in easy-to-understand language.  
  • Projects must state a clear objective, the required volunteer-time, as well as which skills are required. 
  • Make sure you are clear if a request is virtual or in person.  
  • Requests for donations in kind for the Scout Group can be made on this platform on a case-by-case basis.
  • Check out the ForGood Platform to see examples of other requests and projects.
  • Please note there is no guarantee that volunteers will be found, although we will do our best! 
  • Volunteers may ask for a letter of reference or proof of the work after the project. Please be in touch with the National Alumni Team if this is the case.  

Ready to submit a project or ask for help?

Please fill out this micro-volunteer request form for volunteer support!

You can also contact us with questions at alumni@scouts.org.za.