The act of giving back to the community is one of the strongest and most beautiful examples that you as an individual can set for your peers. Make it a part of your New Year’s resolution this 2022 to give back to your community in your own little way. This can help foster a number of mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits! 

Research and studies have revealed that giving back to society can significantly lower blood pressure and combat symptoms of depression and loneliness. Lending a helping hand to those in need can also boost an individual’s immune system and reduce chronic stress and pain. 

Another study conducted by ‘Psychology Today’ has revealed that the simple act of giving back can allow an increase in the levels of dopamine in the brain. This is the neurotransmitter that is primarily responsible for motivation and reward. 

Giving back to your society in your own simple, yet profound, way can boost your sense of purpose and meaning, self-esteem, and confidence. You will also be paving the way and becoming an initiator for a wave of social change in your community! Name a better and more rewarding way to start your New Year than this! 

If you have decided to add giving back to your community into your New Year’s resolution’s list for the year 2022, here are 10 ways to help you realize your goals!

10 Ways to Give Back This 2022

Inculcating these 10 ways to give back to the community this 2022 can help you make a habit out of achieving your resolution this year: 

• Shop Local 

If shopping is one of your favorites, cut off from high-end luxury brands and stick to thrift stores and local shops. Supporting the homegrown businesses and artists in your locality and country is one of the best ways of giving back to your community. 

For example, there are a number of businesses like www.ikikai.co that empower women in rural communities and people with disabilities. This is done by supporting and promoting their skills in the art of stitching. The brand sources and sells these local artists’ work and the funds go into uplifting the livelihood and wages of these skilled craftsmen and women. 

You could opt for a beautiful blooming pink rose tote bag to complement your denim outfit or a parrot laptop sleeve to protect your device. These pieces of work are affordable and aesthetically pleasing. The money also goes into supporting the hard work and talent of the less fortunate! 

If You Can’t Shop, Promote! 

We understand another goal on your list may be saving more than you spend. If that is the case, you can still give back to the community and support your local businesses by spreading the word on social media with retweets, hashtags, likes, shares, and subscribes! 

For example, you can share pictures of a hand-crafted leather handbag that caught your eye with a message on the local business that has created the piece. 

The power of social media is unfounded and learning how you can use this power to the best of your community’s advantage can help you give back this year! 

• Donate to a Good Cause 

If minimalism is your way of living right now, giving to your community can be as simple as donating a small amount to a cause you are interested in. Another important thing to know about donation is that it does not necessarily have to be a cheque! You can also donate clothes, books, toys, and anything else that you have an abundance of and which you no longer require. 

Giving what you do not need or have an excess of to the less fortunate is one of the simplest and most profound acts of kindness. 

Do some research to find out about the local organizations in and around your locality. Most of these organizations will have a website that has a notice of the items that they and the amount that they are in urgent need of. Raising awareness of the same on social media platforms can be beneficial and promote the cause. 

• Volunteer at Shelters 

If you are an animal lover but do not have the time, money, space, and patience that is required to have a pet at home, consider volunteering. There are a number of shelters across the country that require volunteers on an urgent basis to help care for the animals and ensure their needs are met at all points. 

In many cases, a significant proportion of the animals in shelters are abused and often abandoned. This leads to the development of trauma responses, that require considerable patience and love to heal. 

Do you have the patience, love, and kindness that is needed to give all animals a second chance at a beautiful life? If yes, volunteering at a shelter is a great place to start! 

• Conduct Drives 

Community events can be a great way to spread information and raise awareness and money. You can conduct an event around your workplace or local residency. These include drives such as appliances or furniture collection for a less fortunate family or new-baby donations for a new mother. 

You can also conduct tie-ups with popular organizations like the Blue Cross of India for incredible ways to boost awareness and raise resources in your locality. 

One of the best ways to initiate this process is by making maximum use of online platforms. You can consider creating your own dedicated page in addition to following and sharing the pages of your most supported local NGOs. 

www.ikikai.co is a brand that seeks to take the road less taken to bring about social change in a world that needs it. The creation of art, while appreciated, often leaves creators isolated from the celebration and we are here to bridge that gap! Our primary endeavor is to curate products made by predominantly women-led micro-enterprises and artists, allowing the community to drive social change. 

Make an impact on the lives of people who matter with Ikikai! 

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