What Can I Do to Help the World?

The world can be a dangerous and frightening place to live. There seems to be no end to terrible news broadcasting through our phones, television screens, and social media feeds. One day there is a new war breaking out, another day more glaciers melt, and we all feel defeated in our desire to make the world a better place.

What’s important in making the world a better place is that you try.

In all this, we question how to do good in the world. Advocating for positive change, participating in volunteerism, and challenging your negative thoughts are things that can make the world a better place. Try protesting injustices, recycle, and spread informative news that will motivate people to do better in the world.

Also, the benefits of exploring the world and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can do a lot of good in the world! Participating in adventures like studying abroad and volunteering abroad can widen your perspectives, challenging your understanding of the world and broadening your horizons.

What would make the world a better place?

Find those little things you can do everyday, like composting.

Just by asking what would make the world a better place, you’re practically halfway to accomplishing such a task. Of course, there are so many things that would make the world a better place. More open-mindedness around the world and a desire to understand others would be an amazing start. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.

A good exercise is to think about the biggest issues you see in the world, and brainstorm (or research) how to have an impact on these problems. If more people did that, the world would probably become a better place overnight! Taking action, whether big or small, can make you feel at least a little bit better about the existential issues in the world.

Of course, issues like climate change, social injustice, and rampant capitalism are hard for any single person to fight against. It’s important to remember that simply raising awareness of environmental issues, communicating cross-culturally, and speaking up against injustice is always better than doing nothing.

For more ideas of how to make a hands-on difference in the world, check out the following list. We hope you find some good ideas to make the world a better place. If you have any ideas of your own, please comment them below!

33 things to do to make the world a better place

Any type of volunteer work you can commit to can make a huge difference.

On a more tangible level, what can you do to make the world a better place? Well, going “green” (and understanding what that means) can help put an end to harmful practices that are advancing climate change.

Additionally, communicating with people across multiple cultures, countries, and regions is essential to making Earth a better place to live. Understanding different perspectives and listening to stories from people around the world gives us insight into one another.

So how do you any of the aforementioned? Check out the following list for some great ways to do good in the world.

1. Volunteer abroad for a cause that’s important to you.

2. Volunteer in your home country and/or state for a cause that’s important to your community.

3. Provide support during humanitarian crises (if you’re qualified to do so).

4. Participate in a responsible mission trip to help communities in need.

5. Study abroad to further cross-cultural understanding and bonds.

6. Register to vote. Then vote!

7. Protest injustices (without putting yourself or others in harm’s way).

8. Recycle. Also—learn how to recycle! (It’s not as easy as we were told.)

9. Pick up trash, even if it’s not yours.

10. Stop using single-use plastics.

11. Donate blood if you can.

12. Donate plasma if you can.

13. Intern or work abroad, while keeping your privilege in check.

14. Learn a new language so that you can communicate across cultures more effectively.

15. Learn a language abroad to put those cross-cultural communication skills to the test.

16. Conserve water by fixing leaky taps, showering less often (to each their own), and using water-efficient appliances.

17. Donate money to a local charity, GoFundMe page, FundMyTravel campaign, or a nonprofit.

18. Donate your old clothes and belongings to charity, if they’re in good shape.

19. Pay-it-forward and purchase a meal for a stranger.

20. Rescue an animal or volunteer at the humane society.

21. Resist the urge to gossip—it always does more harm than good.

22. Unplug from digital devices and screens for a day or two.

23. Give out compliments often.

24. Share your story with people and—

25. —listen to peoples’ stories.

26. Educate yourself on different religions and lifestyles.

27. Learn about cultures around the world.

28. Study history and politics for a good framework of how the world operates—and why.

29. Participate in meaningful travel, not just tourist-driven travel.

30. Send thank-you notes.

31. Limit purchases of fast fashion and go to thrift stores instead of malls.

32. Stand up and speak out against social inequalities.

33. Track your moods to see how often and when you are happy, and then ask yourself why.

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So…how can I make the world be a better place?

Sometimes, it really is as simple as being kind.

There are endless ways you can do good in this world today to make it a better place to live tomorrow, but it can be overwhelming and exhausting when you feel like you’re doing it all on your own. It can be helpful to join communities of like-minded people, and to talk to others about your desire to make the world a better place.

Most importantly, don’t ever give up on trying to do good. If you make an effort to be a better person, develop empathy, and treat the Earth with respect, you can make the world a better place. Whether it’s your first good deed or just another of many, you can choose from the list above and get started right now!