Volunteering, capital of the future? - Statistical Data Included

Governments are waking up to the economic and social benefits of volunteering, but should not rely on it as a Stopgap for solving society's ills

In a telling recognition of volunteering's place in society, the United Nations General Assembly will meet this December to debate how governments can do a better job of supporting those who contribute to their communities without any financial return. It is an apt culmination to the International Year of Volunteers that has mobilized people in 130 countries.

It is hardly surprising that governments around the world are waking up to volunteering's economic and social benefits. In the United Kingdom, for example, volunteering contributes an estimated [pound]40 billion ($64 billion) to the economy, whilst in Canada its economic value has been put at $16 billion. A recent comparative study in 22 countries estimated that volunteers put in hours equivalent to the work of 10.5 million full-time employees!

But there are dangers in solely drawing attention to these economic justifications, even though they can raise the status of volunteering, in much the same way as the women's movement has long argued in relation to household work.

Governments might be tempted to replace paid workers with volunteers to save money. For one, this overlooks the fact that volunteering requires investment and training to yield a return: a recent study in Europe estimated that every dollar invested in volunteering brought eight in return.

From gift to exchange

More importantly, growing evidence supports what volunteers throughout the world have long known, namely that it is good for society. Academics have developed the notion of social capital to describe the links and connections made by individuals through volunteering. Some studies have suggested that a society rich in social capital will tend to have lower rates of crime, lower levels of school absenteeism and inter-racial conflict, and (coming full circle to economics again) higher levels of economic growth.

While this capital has a role to play in building strong and active communities, it can only be maximized in certain conditions. Volunteering works best in the context of a healthy and well-resourced public sector. It is not a substitute for government services but rather an essential complement--adding value to the services provided by paid professionals. As an essential ingredient of a healthy, democratic society, governments have a vested interest in its promotion, even when volunteers are involved in campaigning activities and speak out against public policies.

The benefits to the volunteers themselves should not be underestimated. It used to be said that volunteering was based on the idea of a gift relationship. Now, most people see it as an exchange, where both giver and receiver benefit in equal measure. Volunteers are quick to cite a rich list of benefits, from meeting friends to learning new skills and gaining a different perspective on life.

Those suffering from social exclusion are particularly likely to benefit. Disabled people taking part in volunteering can aid social integration and challenge the negative stereotypes of themselves as passive recipients of care. For the young, volunteering offers opportunities for self-development and risk-taking, and provides a valuable grounding in citizenship.

For senior citizens, it could help the process of 'active ageing'--some research has even suggested that volunteering is good for health! In short, volunteering provides a classic win/win situation, benefiting both the volunteer and society.

Removing barriers

Still, barriers to participation remain: in some countries there is no freedom of association, while in others, legislation may work against involving certain groups, such as the unemployed. Organizations may be unable to pay travel expenses for volunteers, thus penalising those with the lowest incomes. There may also be attitudinal barriers -- some people may reject volunteering as old-fashioned and outmoded -- or institutional ones: organizations may be reluctant to develop opportunities for volunteers to get involved.

Governments have a role to play in removing these barriers, by creating an environment -- legal, fiscal and institutional -- in which people are able to volunteer. The Dutch government, for example, has decided to scrutinize or "proof" all new legislation to maximise its impact on volunteering.

Employees on the go in Japan

Governments also have a key role to play in funding the organization or information technology infrastructure at the national and local levels, to enable volunteering to flourish. As major employers, they can encourage staff to play an active role in their local communities. Taking on board emerging evidence of the benefits of volunteering on staff morale, team-building and business profile, more and more employers--in the public and private sectors--are encouraging their staff to get involved in volunteer activity.

Japan's Osaka Gas Company, for example, launched a scheme called "Chiisa na Tomoshibi" or "Tiny Lamplight" in 1981. By 1994, a staggering 13,500 staff were involved in the volunteer scheme, which entailed employees participating in a range of community services. The company promoted volunteerism by allowing staff to take leave ranging from 10 days to 12 months. Retired staff and the families of employees were also encouraged to participate in social welfare activities.

Though governments have their role to play in endorsing pro-volunteer policies, they must also recognize their limitations. The volunteering movement rightly cherishes its independence, and any attempt by the state to control its agenda must be fiercely resisted.

WHAT IS VOLUNTEERING?

Ask a group of people what volunteering means and you're likely to get a whole range of answers. For some, it conjures up images of people helping the Less fortunate--providing assistance to children, the ill, the elderly or the blind. For others, it means campaigning for change--getting involved with a local environmental pressure group or supporting a global drive to abolish landmines. For yet others, it is about the struggle for survival--working with friends and neighbours to garner the essentials of everyday life.

Whatever form it takes, voluntary activity stands apart from paid work or leisure in three ways. Firstly, it is not carried out primarily for monetary gain. Secondly, it is carried out freely and without coercion. Thirdly, volunteering must benefit the community, although it can be rewarding for the volunteer, often in intangible ways.

While some societies are richer in volunteering than others, we need to be careful about adopting a league-table approach to measuring this activity. Given the variety of forms it takes, we run the risk of overstating the divisions between industrialized countries--which are perhaps richer in formal volunteering--and developing ones, where the informal tradition of volunteering is often more pronounced.

COPYRIGHT 2001 UNESCO
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group