The Rise of Сorporate Volunteering

Сorporate volunteering, also known as employee volunteering or сorporate soсial responsibility (СSR) volunteering, refers to initiatives in whiсh сompanies enсourage or faсilitate their employees to engage in сommunity serviсe aсtivities during work hours or through сompany-supported programs. While сorporate philanthropy traditionally involved finanсial donations or sponsorships, сorporate volunteering programs offer employees the opportunity to сontribute their time, skills, and expertise to сharitable сauses and сommunity projeсts.

Driving Soсial Responsibility

One of the primary motivations behind сorporate volunteering programs is to demonstrate a сompany’s сommitment to soсial responsibility and sustainable development. By engaging in сommunity serviсe aсtivities and supporting loсal nonprofits and сharitable organizations, сompanies сan address pressing soсial and environmental сhallenges, сontribute to the well-being of сommunities, and build positive relationships with stakeholders. Сorporate volunteering programs allow сompanies to align their business goals with broader soсietal needs and demonstrate their values in aсtion.

Employee Engagement and Satisfaсtion

Beyond the external benefits of soсial impaсt, сorporate volunteering programs also yield signifiсant internal advantages by enhanсing employee engagement, satisfaсtion, and retention. Researсh has shown that employees who partiсipate in volunteer aсtivities through their workplaсe report higher levels of job satisfaсtion, pride in their employer, and сommitment to their organization’s mission and values. Volunteering provides employees with opportunities to develop new skills, build relationships with сolleagues outside of their immediate teams, and experienсe a sense of fulfillment from giving baсk to their сommunities.

Building a Stronger Team Сulture

Сorporate volunteering programs play a key role in fostering a positive and inсlusive organizational сulture by promoting teamwork, сollaboration, and shared values among employees. Volunteering aсtivities provide opportunities for team building and bonding outside of the traditional work environment, allowing employees to сonneсt with сolleagues from different departments and levels of seniority in a meaningful сontext. By working together to address сommunity needs, employees develop a sense of сamaraderie and mutual respeсt that strengthens the overall team dynamiс.

Enhanсing Employee Well-Being

Partiсipating in volunteer aсtivities сan also have positive effeсts on employee well-being and mental health. Engaging in altruistiс behaviors, suсh as helping others and сontributing to soсial сauses, has been linked to inсreased feelings of happiness, fulfillment, and overall life satisfaсtion. Сorporate volunteering programs offer employees a sense of purpose and meaning beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, whiсh сan help reduсe stress, improve morale, and promote work-life balanсe.

Attraсting and Retaining Talent

In today’s сompetitive job market, сompanies are inсreasingly using сorporate volunteering programs as a reсruitment and retention tool to attraсt top talent and differentiate themselves as employers of сhoiсe. Millennials and Generation Z, in partiсular, plaсe a high value on сorporate soсial responsibility and seek employers who demonstrate a сommitment to making a positive impaсt on soсiety. Offering robust volunteering opportunities сan help сompanies attraсt mission-driven сandidates who are aligned with their values and сulture.

Best Praсtiсes for Сorporate Volunteering Programs

To maximize the impaсt of сorporate volunteering programs and ensure their long-term suссess, сompanies should сonsider the following best praсtiсes:

1. Align volunteering initiatives with сompany values and business objeсtives.
2. Offer a variety of volunteering opportunities to aссommodate diverse interests and skill sets.
3. Provide resourсes and support to employees, suсh as paid volunteer time off, training, and logistiсal assistanсe.
4. Partner with reputable nonprofits and сommunity organizations to identify meaningful and impaсtful projeсts.
5. Reсognize and сelebrate employee volunteerism through internal сommuniсations, awards, and inсentives.
6. Measure and сommuniсate the soсial and business impaсt of volunteering programs to stakeholders.

Сonсlusion

Сorporate volunteering programs play a vital role in driving soсial responsibility, employee engagement, and organizational suссess. By providing employees with opportunities to give baсk to their сommunities and support сharitable сauses, сompanies сan сreate a positive workplaсe сulture, attraсt top talent, and make a meaningful differenсe in the world. As сorporate volunteering сontinues to evolve, сompanies that prioritize soсial impaсt and employee well-being will reap the rewards of a more engaged, motivated, and fulfilled workforсe.

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Wildlife monitoring

Volunteers in this area do not need professional training to observe changes in natural life. Those who wish to help can dive and monitor coral reefs, hike in the mountains, and go on hikes with reserve staff to observe changes in the environment and its inhabitants. Groups of volunteers regularly help with wildlife and bird censuses. Volunteers also help with flora and fauna photo and video observations. Volunteers also help solve environmental problems, such as preventing the burning of dry vegetation or the accumulation of unauthorized household waste dumps on reserve lands.

Animal rehabilitation and rescue

A volunteer activity that helps preserve species and their habitats is helping animals affected by natural disasters or human activities. If you want to help, you can join an animal shelter, a rehabilitation center, or even a team of animal rescuers who save animals from poachers. You will have wonderful experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime, such as caring for bats or saving a population of sea turtles.

Advocacy 

Advocacy is a way to influence government policy and individual companies or businesses. Volunteers in this area can be involved in the design and implementation of projects that will influence government decisions, document and media work, and the organization of campaigns. Volunteers develop creative ideas, produce materials, write scripts, and participate in the event itself in preparation for the campaign.

Educational volunteering

Eco enthusiasts can share their knowledge through teaching at schools and universities, speaking engagements, discussion clubs, or information events. Often, volunteer organizations offer free classes, and anyone can take advantage of this and host an educational event at their school, university, or workplace. A popular form of educational volunteering today is social media blogging, which is dedicated to eco-friendly lifestyles, veganism, zero-waste lifestyles, etc.

Information volunteering

Each year, thousands of volunteers from around the world write articles, conduct research, and shoot documentaries, photos, and videos to inform the world about today’s environmental issues.

Travel volunteering

Do you love to travel, know how to make a fire, pitch a tent, and provide first aid? Volunteers in the tourism sector lead excursions and tell travelers about environmentally friendly and interesting places. They also teach them about respect for nature and the basics of green tourism. In addition, volunteers in this area help to ensure that the environmental regulations for protected areas remain in place. They ensure that people do not harm wildlife during their visits by providing well-marked trails and equipped lodging.

Monitoring water quality

Water quality monitoring expeditions to wells, boreholes, and other water bodies are arranged by environmental organizations. Volunteers use special equipment to test the water with experts and also assist in the creation of photo and video materials to document the results.

Clean up plastic

Clean-ups and plogging are among the most popular forms of volunteering. Many international NGOs promoting zero-waste lifestyles and analyzing the activities of businesses and large corporations to promote systemic change are also active in this area. In addition, such organizations help to recycle these plastics and secondary raw materials and give them a second life. Most sorting stations employ volunteers as guides to explain the station, the rules, and the stages of sorting.

Combating food waste

The problem of recycling organic waste is growing daily in many countries around the world. NGOs are helping to feed people in need by conserving food resources and reducing organic waste. How does it work? Supermarkets and restaurants donate food that is about to go out of date to volunteers who then distribute it to people who are in difficult circumstances. In this way, they not only help fight hunger but also reduce waste.

Restoring green spaces

Planting trees, shrubs, and other plants in parks, forests, and nature preserves helps unite the community, learn to work together, and change the region for the better. Environmental organizations, government agencies, businesses, and nature preserve managers organize plant restoration projects. Such initiatives unite city residents so that everyone can plant trees, flowers, or other plants and share their accomplishments with the world. People will take care of such plantings because they usually value their work. Such events and marathons will contribute to the improvement of the image of the city and its environmental situation.

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Respite care plays a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of caregivers while providing stimulating and enjoyable activities for the people under care. Services may include in-home respite, overnight camps, day programs, recreation activities and more. With demand increasing every year, Ottawa depends on volunteers to help deliver affordable and accessible respite options. Educational institutions have an opportunity to encourage students and faculty to get involved in supporting local respite facilities and programs.

Current Landscape of Respite Care in Ottawa

Ottawa offers a range of respite care services such as in-home respite, facility-based respite, specialized camps, adult day programs, recreational activities, and peer support groups. These services aim to provide stimulating experiences for participants while offering caregivers time to focus on their own needs with the reassurance that their loved one is in a safe environment [4].

The respite system relies on partnerships between regional agencies and requires significant volunteer contributions. Volunteers assist with programs, events, and peer support as well as provide transportation and help raise funds to enable access to services for all families regardless of financial constraints.

Initiatives by Educational Institutions

Some secondary and post-secondary schools in Ottawa already promote volunteerism in respite care by informing students about opportunities and partnering with local facilities. Initiatives include holding respite care awareness events, inviting guest speakers, encouraging student-led projects, integrating related placements into study programs and more. These activities educate students on the importance of respite care while empowering them to apply their energy and skills to support this valuable community service.

For example, Algonquin College trains future educational assistants and child and youth care practitioners who complete field placements at various children’s treatment centres and respite day programs. Placement students obtain practical experience while facilities gain enthusiastic volunteers who can help run programs and activities.

Partnerships between Volunteer Schools and Respite Care Facilities

Developing strong partnerships between educational institutions and respite facilities results in impactful volunteer experiences and better support. Partnerships enable ongoing opportunities for students, clear expectations, appropriate training and orientation for different roles, and recognition of volunteers’ contributions. Partnerships also facilitate feedback to improve programs on both sides.

Some great examples include La Cité Collégiale’s partnership with Respite Care Ottawa and Carleton University’s psychology program working with Roger Neilson House palliative care hospice. Students volunteer consistently in a structured program to support respite program delivery while developing professional skills for their future careers.

Training and Support for Volunteers

To volunteer in respite care, one needs certain sensitivities, skills and qualities like empathy, responsibility, teamwork and creativity. When schools partner with respite facilities, student volunteers can access orientation on confidentiality, learning goals, roles and responsibilities as well as specific training on providing person-centred care. This support structure gives volunteers confidence to support respite clients wholeheartedly while exploring their interests.

For example, creative volunteers could lead crafts and song activities. Outdoorsy volunteers could facilitate nature walks and games in the park. Volunteers could even apply their unique skills in technology, multimedia arts, beauty services and pet care to create new types of stimulating programming. With some guidance, student volunteers can truly unlock their passions to make a difference.

ALSO READ: Volunteer School – for you

Incorporating Volunteerism into the Curriculum

Educational institutions can purposefully incorporate community service learning models into their curriculum mandates across various programs. This approach integrates skill development through meeting genuine community needs with structured opportunities to reflect on experiences and concepts learned in the classroom.

Within the local context, schools could design credit courses where students create and facilitate programming for respite care facilities as their project. Child and Youth Studies students at Algonquin College already complete advocacy projects such ass developing visual tools, communication boards, photo books and sensory equipment to donate to local children’s hospitals and respite day programs.

Promoting Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity

With Ottawa’s cultural diversity, promoting culturally-sensitive care ensures respite services adapt to meet community needs. Educational institutions need to train student volunteers to respect diversity and honour cultural traditions related to recreation, food, family dynamics and personal care. Volunteers should also use appropriate communication strategies and inclusive language.

When partnering with educational institutions, facilities can specifically recruit multilingual volunteers to support recent immigrants accessing respite services as well. Overall, fostering intercultural understanding through training, experience and reflection contributes enormously to improving respite care.

Challenges and Opportunities for Future Growth

Expanding volunteering in respite care faces challenges like funding constraints in agencies, limited partnerships between organizations and matching the right volunteers to client needs. However, future opportunities exist to spread awareness, engage students, involve diverse community volunteers and meet growing demands through creativity and collaboration.

Educational institutions can educate students on the value of respite care, connect them to facilities needing dedicated volunteers and structure partnerships for consistent contributions. With schools’ and agencies’ commitment to supporting volunteers through ongoing training and coordination, volunteerism in respite care can certainly continue strengthening communities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, educational institutions hold responsibility to increase student participation in community causes like respite care as volunteers, advocates and future professionals. Through structured partnerships, curriculum integration and emphasis on cultural diversity training, schools significantly enable volunteer contributions to fill service gaps and enhance quality of life for countless Ottawa families managing complex needs. Students also grow by applying their growing skills to benefit others in professional settings. Ultimately through creativity, empathy and hard work, Ottawa’s educational institutions and respite care community can support each other to new heights.

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Understanding Gambling Addiction

In the world of online gambling, numerous platforms provide a diverse array of games and appealing features to entice players. However, it’s important to acknowledge that for certain individuals, the initial excitement can transform into an unhealthy fixation, resulting in addictive tendencies and adverse outcomes. Gambling addiction manifests as an inability to control one’s gambling behavior, despite the detrimental effects on personal relationships, finances, and overall well-being. Swift action is vital to address this issue and prevent further harm.

The Role of Volunteers

Volunteers play a crucial role in aiding individuals dealing with gambling addiction, providing them with invaluable support on their path to recovery. These dedicated individuals are passionate about assisting those who are struggling and act as a lifeline for individuals seeking help. They are often affiliated with organizations, helplines, or support groups that focus on addressing gambling addiction specifically. Volunteers undergo extensive training to enhance their knowledge of addiction, develop empathetic communication skills, and acquire effective strategies to assist individuals in their journey towards overcoming addiction.

Methods of Support

Volunteers who assist individuals with gambling addiction employ various support strategies to help them overcome their challenges. These strategies are designed to provide emotional support, education, guidance, and practical tools for recovery. Here are some common support strategies used by volunteers:

• Active Listening and Empathy: Volunteers create a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals with gambling addiction to express their thoughts and emotions. They listen attentively, without interrupting or passing judgment, and show empathy and understanding for the struggles the individuals are facing.

• Emotional Support: Volunteers offer emotional support by providing encouragement, reassurance, and motivation throughout the recovery process. They understand the emotional turmoil associated with addiction and offer a compassionate presence to help individuals navigate their feelings and challenges.

• Education and Information: Volunteers provide information about the nature of gambling addiction, its consequences, and the resources available for recovery. They educate individuals about the risks associated with excessive gambling and help them understand the psychological and financial implications of their behavior.

• Coping Mechanisms and Relapse Prevention: Volunteers assist individuals in developing healthy coping mechanisms and strategies to resist the urge to gamble. They provide practical tools for managing cravings, stress, and triggers. Volunteers may suggest alternative activities, such as hobbies, exercise, or socializing, to divert attention away from gambling.

• Referrals to Professional Help: Volunteers recognize the limitations of their support and may refer individuals to professional services when necessary. They provide information about counseling services, therapy options, and addiction treatment programs that specialize in gambling addiction. Volunteers can guide individuals in finding the appropriate professional support to address the underlying causes of their addiction.

• Support Group Facilitation: Volunteers may organize or facilitate support group meetings where individuals with gambling addiction can connect with others facing similar challenges. These groups provide a sense of community, shared experiences, and mutual support. Volunteers create a supportive environment for individuals to share their stories, exchange advice, and celebrate milestones in their recovery.

• Goal Setting and Personalized Plans: Volunteers work with individuals to set achievable goals and develop personalized recovery plans. They assist in identifying the triggers and patterns associated with gambling addiction and help individuals create strategies to avoid or cope with these situations. Volunteers provide ongoing guidance and accountability to ensure progress toward recovery.

It’s important to note that volunteers are not professional counselors or therapists. They provide support and assistance based on their training and experience. For more complex cases, individuals may be encouraged to seek professional help in conjunction with the volunteer support. The combination of volunteer support and professional intervention can offer a comprehensive approach to tackling gambling addiction effectively.

Effectiveness of Volunteer Assistance

The effectiveness of volunteering at POLI casinos depends on various factors. While volunteers play a crucial role in providing support, it is essential to acknowledge that addiction recovery is a complex process that requires a multidimensional approach. The involvement of professionals, such as therapists and counselors, may be necessary to address the underlying causes of addiction and provide specialized treatment.
However, volunteers serve as a vital bridge between addicts and professional help. Their continuous support, encouragement, and guidance can significantly contribute to addicts’ motivation to seek professional assistance and make positive changes in their lives. Additionally, the sense of community and understanding fostered by volunteers can alleviate feelings of isolation and empower addicts to stay committed to their recovery journey.

Conclusion

Gambling addiction is a pressing issue as shown in the research by aucasinoonline.com – best online casinos in Australia combat gambling addiction in 2023.
In Australia there is a dedicated group of volunteers who is making a profound difference in the lives of gambling addicts. These compassionate individuals provide essential support, education, and guidance, creating a nurturing environment where those struggling with addiction can seek help and begin their journey to recovery. While the contributions of volunteers are invaluable, it is important to acknowledge that addressing gambling addiction necessitates a comprehensive approach involving professional assistance and a strong support network. By uniting efforts, addicts can successfully overcome their gambling addiction and embark on a path toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.

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Responsibilities of Volunteers on Bartolomé Galapagos Island

As a volunteer on Bartolomé Galapagos Island or any other island in the archipelago, you have a responsibility to protect and preserve the unique wildlife and landscapes that make the Galapagos so special. Your tasks may include habitat restoration, data collection, or community outreach, all aimed at promoting conservation efforts in the area. It’s important to remember that as a volunteer, you are representing not only yourself but also the organization you are working with and the broader community of conservationists working to protect the Galapagos. By taking your responsibilities seriously and working hard to contribute to the conservation efforts, you can make a real difference in protecting the future of the Galapagos Islands.

Why Volunteer in the Galapagos?

Volunteering in the Galapagos provides a unique opportunity to make a difference in a beautiful and important ecosystem. Here are some of the benefits of volunteering:

1. Learn about conservation: As a volunteer, you’ll learn about the conservation efforts taking place in the Galapagos and contribute to those efforts.
2. Gain new skills: Volunteering can provide the opportunity to gain new skills in areas such as research, conservation, and community outreach.
3. Meet new people: Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for conservation and the environment.
4. Experience a new culture: Volunteering in the Galapagos will provide you with the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and way of life.

Types of Volunteer Projects

There are a variety of volunteer projects available in the Galapagos. Here are some of the most common types of projects:

1. Conservation: Volunteers can help with conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, monitoring endangered species, and eradicating invasive species.
2. Research: Volunteers can assist with research projects such as bird banding, sea turtle monitoring, and marine biodiversity surveys.
3. Education: Volunteers can work with local schools and communities to promote conservation and environmental awareness.
4. Community outreach: Volunteers can work with local communities to promote sustainable tourism and provide information on conservation efforts.

Requirements for Volunteering

To volunteer in the Galapagos, you will need to meet certain requirements. These may include:
– Age: Some projects may have age restrictions, so be sure to check before applying.
– Physical fitness: Some projects may require physical activity such as hiking or working in hot and humid conditions.
– Language skills: Depending on the project, you may need to be fluent in Spanish or English.
– Background checks: Some projects may require a background check.

Tips for Preparing for Your Volunteer Experience

Preparing for your volunteer experience is essential to making the most of your time in the Galapagos. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
– Research the project: Be sure to research the project thoroughly before applying so that you know what to expect.
– Get in shape: If the project requires physical activity, start getting in shape before you go.
– Learn some Spanish: Knowing some basic Spanish can be helpful when working with local communities.
– Pack wisely: Pack clothing appropriate for the climate and bring any necessary gear for the project.

What to Expect During Your Volunteer Experience

Your volunteer experience in the Galapagos will depend on the project you choose. However, here are some common things you can expect during your volunteer experience:
– Living arrangements: Volunteers may stay in dorm-style accommodations or homestays with local families.
– Work schedule: Volunteers typically work 6-8 hours per day, with weekends off for exploring the islands.
– Project activities: Volunteers will participate in activities such as habitat restoration, data collection, and community outreach.
– Island exploration: During your free time, you can explore the islands and see the unique wildlife and landscapes that make the Galapagos so special.

FAQ

1. What is the minimum age to volunteer in the Galapagos?
   The minimum age varies by project, but some may require volunteers to be at least 18 years old.
2. Do I need any special skills to volunteer?
   No special skills are required, but some projects may prefer individuals with experience in conservation, research, or education.
3. How long can I volunteer for?
   Volunteer opportunities can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the project.
4. Do I need to speak Spanish to volunteer?
   It depends on the project, but some may require volunteers to be fluent in Spanish or at least have basic knowledge of the language.
5. Will I be provided with food and accommodations?
   Yes, most volunteer projects provide food and accommodations for their volunteers.

Volunteering in the Galapagos is a unique and rewarding experience that allows you to make a difference in a beautiful and important ecosystem. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can become a volunteer and contribute to conservation efforts in the Galapagos. Whether you choose to work on habitat restoration, research, education, or community outreach, your efforts will help protect the unique wildlife and landscapes that make the Galapagos Islands so special.”

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To become a volunteer means to join a group, to become a member. Of course there are some areas of exceptions (work with home care, pro bono volunteering), but still, it is obvious that only in a group there is mutual support, safety, continuity and sharing experience, leisure, communication and friendship among like-minded people, experience of group interaction, distribution of responsibilities and much more, which is so often sought by potential volunteers. Many have a desire to do something good, but there are also fears. It is the group that gives volunteers the opportunity to start their ministry, get a foot in the door, and gain experience.

The leadership of volunteer organizations faces a difficult task: to interact not only with volunteers, but also with groups, maybe with groups first. It is necessary to understand it beforehand and to build the volunteer organization so that the needs and interests of groups will be satisfied in it. It is clear that the group cannot exist as an amorphous mass, it is built around the leader (coordinator, curator, leader) and it is better that this leader has formal powers.

It is not an easy contradictory situation. On the one hand, the group and its inner life in volunteering are an important value in their own right. On the other hand, the principle “do no harm” can be observed only if personal responsibility for the activity of the group is taken. Hence, an important practical conclusion for me is that volunteer groups are built around coordinators and are defined by their charisma and their understanding of service. The fact is that volunteers are not responsible for anything in the current system; they can simply walk away or refuse to do something at a crucial moment. At the same time, volunteer service, like any work, requires personalized responsibility for specific activities, for the interaction of volunteers with management and with their charges, for the organization of work. This responsibility should be entrusted to the coordinator (supervisor, leader), who in turn is not just the boss, but the person who guarantees the viability and fruitful work of the group, of course, within the conditions and resources that the volunteer organization provides.

Since volunteer service is based on personal motivation, only those who can work with or befriend a coordinator remain in specific groups. It is always up to the coordinator to determine someone’s membership in the group. The individual volunteer may be very talented and want good things, but if his actions interfere with the group ministry, he may be removed from the group, for he is not responsible for the mentees. This is not good, but it is naturally a possible cost of responsible ministry. Responsible ministry can only be done with people who have voluntarily submitted themselves to a facilitator.

The most important tasks of a coordinator in relation to the group are: to understand the characteristics of the participants, their motivation and desires, to conduct periodic teambuilding work, to build an internal structure and distribute responsibilities, to build a system of common decision-making, to build a system of preservation and transfer of experience, to help newcomers to get to know the group and find their place, to help volunteers to understand and effectively show their responsibility for the group, to help the entire group to understand and effectively show their responsibility for the group.

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I distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic is that which has matured in the volunteer’s soul, which he formulates himself. Personal motivations can be as varied as possible, as long as they do not contradict the practical, moral and religious (if any) principles of the organization. External motivation is offered by the volunteer organization and cannot be reduced to rigid ideology or manipulation.

Each person comes to serve for some personal motivation. Even Christians. Someone remembers how lonely he was in the hospital, someone simply responds to the pain or suffering of others, someone believes that serving others is his moral or religious duty, someone goes to children for the company, someone perceives volunteerism as personal development, training, etc. In any case, a person’s motives for volunteering are always a mystery.

Of course, it is the task of volunteer leaders to know the inner motivations of volunteers, but it is very important to treat these motivations with care and to accept all of them gratefully, as long as the “do no harm” principle is respected. Obviously, occultists or persons of “sexual preoccupation,” those who would do harm to their charges, have no place in volunteerism. But if we exclude the anomalies, then for me the apostle Paul’s words are decisive on this subject: “As much as they preach Christ, whether falsely or sincerely, I rejoice and will rejoice in this” (Philippians 1:18).

As for the external motivation (the one offered by the organization), I am convinced that we should not choose high ideologemes as the goal and meaning of volunteer service: to make the world a better place, to reduce suffering, to help the sick to recover, to fulfill the commandments of Christ, to help people to find salvation, to help them accept their pain and suffering as a step toward salvation. To abandon the ideological motivation is enough to understand that in trying to accomplish such tasks, volunteers will not see visible and tangible results of their activities, and they will have a sense of disappointment and guilt over the unfulfillment of the higher goal. But there is also a moral and even religious dimension. Volunteers and mentees cannot be involved in a relationship that is not honestly and responsibly negotiated, and that is not primarily provided with personal resources.

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The first type is volunteer groups under charitable foundations. They are the majority. The main client is the foundation, and in the end everything is done for the foundation’s clients: children, the elderly or even animals. Volunteers stay within the boundaries of the foundation’s charters and applications, and their activities are limited to specific institutions (orphanages or hospitals) or beneficiaries. Experience shows that any additional volunteer development activities (creation of a system of help and support, interaction with other volunteer organizations, popularization of the idea of volunteer service, etc.) in this situation are secondary or not needed at all. The volunteer leader is usually an employee of the foundation. He or she sets practical tasks for volunteers to solve at a given moment, recruits new volunteers, organizes the work of volunteers, and keeps them motivated.

The second type of volunteer organizations are those created by the initiative and efforts of volunteers. Their goal, in general, is the same – to help their charges, but unlike foundations, volunteers set themselves practical tasks, and all their work is done by their own efforts. The main task of the leadership of such an organization is to make the work of volunteers as efficient and smoothly organized as possible. Everyone’s resource is time, which means that the time given to someone should be spent with maximum benefit. The main thing is to do the best job possible. The inner life of the volunteer community is secondary in this case, although, of course, it is not ignored. Secondary, because it has nothing to do with the motivation of volunteers. In such a system, everything must run like clockwork. Strict discipline is necessary. Management must be quite vertical and internal business relationships must be strictly regulated. Each volunteer clearly understands his place, his role and his contribution to the common cause. In such volunteer associations, as a rule, there is no external funding – all costs are distributed among volunteers, which again requires a lot of optimization of labor and costs. For volunteers, such organizations are a school of teamwork, a school of creativity, and a school of responsibility.

The third type of volunteer organizations are those that exist, not only for the sake of wards, but also for the sake of volunteers, for the development and support of volunteer initiatives. The main task is to create an environment of education, support, and training of volunteers. At the same time, of course, there is help for the wards and work with them. Such volunteer movements do not have predetermined areas of activity. Much depends on volunteers themselves. If there is an enterprising person and the movement is ready to support his idea, a new line of activity emerges. So volunteers can take care of children in hospitals and at the same time correspond with prisoners.

This approach implies the systematic development of those areas that are auxiliary to volunteer movements of other types. When the main task is to help a volunteer find a good cause, like-minded people, learn something, and even mature to open their own area of service, it is obvious that specialists in organizing group work, teachers, psychologists, and others are needed. At the same time all these specialists should not change from time to time and cannot act according to their own interests, their presence should guarantee that volunteers will receive qualified help and support in time, that volunteer initiatives will be realized. In practice, this approach implies a fairly large staff for NCOs and mandatory external funding aimed at developing volunteerism rather than targeted assistance to those in need.

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What is a volunteer?

A volunteer is a person who is willing to consciously spend his or her time and effort for the benefit of society at large or a specific person. Volunteers are sometimes called other people who have nothing to do with the term. For example, a volunteer is often referred to as someone who does not take a payment for any work or service performed.

This is a misconception of a volunteer. The purpose of volunteering is not to work for free, but to benefit the world and people. The purpose of volunteering is to make the world a better place. Volunteerism, of course, is one of the main principles of volunteering, but it is not the purpose of volunteering. A true volunteer is an example of morality, humanity, unselfishness, and tolerance.

All know that volunteer activity represents display of an active position of the concrete person, or association of activists – adherents. These associations, as a rule, by joint efforts participate in the decision of arising problems in a society. That is why volunteering is widespread in the nonprofit sector – in Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs).

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