Are Clubs Considered Volunteering?

Understanding the Difference Between Participation and Service

When students and young people begin collecting volunteer hours, one common question we hear is: “Do school clubs count as volunteering?”

Whether it’s being a member of the debate team, sports committee, interact club, or student council, many learners assume that time spent in these activities qualifies as community service. But does it really?

The short answer: Not always.
The long answer: It depends on the activity, not just the membership.

At Volunteer Now, we help learners, parents, and educators navigate what counts as verified volunteering, and how clubs can sometimes play a valuable role in that journey.

What Is Volunteering?

Volunteering is giving your time, energy, and skills to benefit others or a cause, without receiving payment or personal gain. It’s focused on helping someone outside of yourself or your direct circle, usually through a non-profit, community group, or charity effort.

True volunteering is:

• Selfless
• Community-focused
• Unpaid
• Impact-driven

So, simply belonging to a club (even a service-based one) doesn’t automatically qualify. It’s what you do as part of that club that matters.

When Clubs Do Count as Volunteering

Certain clubs have service or outreach components that definitely qualify as volunteer work. For example:

✅ Interact Club

If your interact club helps with food drives, beach cleanups, or community events, those specific hours spent on outreach activities count. However, weekly meetings to plan events do not necessarily count unless they’re directly related to organizing service activities.

✅ Environmental Club

Planting trees, creating community gardens, or educating others through eco-awareness campaigns can be considered volunteering, especially if it benefits the broader community.

✅ Leadership or Student Council

Planning charity fundraisers, collecting donations, or hosting events for underprivileged groups can qualify. Again, sitting in meetings or managing internal school issues won’t count unless there’s a public or service element.

✅ Faith-Based Youth Groups

Time spent organizing soup kitchens, hospital visits, or donation drives for local shelters is volunteering. Bible study or attending youth meetings is not.

✅ Sports or Culture Clubs

Coaching younger students, offering free clinics, or helping run inclusive community events may qualify. Competing, training, or rehearsing does not.

When Clubs Don’t Count as Volunteering

Belonging to a club that exists for your own growth, skill development, or performance—without a clear service element, is not volunteering.

Examples:

• Chess club? Playing games for fun or competition = ❌ not volunteering.
• Debate team? Practicing and debating = ❌ not volunteering.
• Drama club? Rehearsing and performing for school = ❌ not volunteering.
• Rugby team? Training and matches = ❌ not volunteering.

Even if you’re learning leadership or team-building skills, it doesn’t meet the core volunteering requirement: helping someone else without reward.

Why It Matters

Many South African high schools, especially under the IEB curriculum, require verified service hours for the Life Orientation (LO) subject or character-building initiatives. These hours must be:

• Unpaid
• Beneficial to someone other than yourself
• Clearly documented and verifiable

If students submit club participation hours that don’t meet these criteria, they risk not fulfilling their requirements, especially when applying for scholarships, university, or community awards.

At Volunteer Now, we offer structured Volunteering Days and activities that are verified and meet these standards. Volunteers receive certificates, time logs, and activity breakdowns to submit with confidence.

How Clubs Can Add Real Volunteer Value

If you’re in a club and want your hours to count, here are a few ways to build in service:

• Organise a charity drive through your drama or music club.
• Offer a free community class (e.g., dance, chess, sports) to disadvantaged children.
• Run a fundraiser and donate proceeds to an NGO or cause.
• Volunteer as a group through Volunteer Now or other platforms.
• Create educational materials (e.g., posters, videos, workshops) for community awareness campaigns.

Remember: Intent matters, but so does impact.

Tips for Learners

1. Track your hours carefully
   Use a volunteering log or platform like Volunteer Now to keep an accurate record of service-related activities, not just club meetings.
2. Separate service from participation
   If you’re unsure whether an activity counts, ask: Who benefits from this? If it’s primarily you or your school, it’s likely not volunteering.
3. Ask for guidance
   Talk to your LO teacher or the volunteer organiser. If you did something meaningful as part of your club, it may be accepted with proper documentation.
4. Look for external opportunities
   Join verified Volunteering Days on weekends or holidays to earn additional hours that are clearly service based.

Final Thoughts: Club Work vs. Community Work

Being involved in school clubs is fantastic. It builds confidence, leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. But volunteering goes beyond that, it’s about helping others, giving back, and making an impact outside of yourself.

So, are clubs considered volunteering?

Sometimes. But only when what you do within the club serves others, not just yourself or your school.

At Volunteer Now, we encourage students to enjoy both club life and community service. You don’t have to choose one or the other, but you do need to understand the difference.

Need help earning real, verified volunteering hours?
Visit www.volunteernow.co.za to sign up for upcoming events, track your service, and get certificates you can use proudly.