Youth & Volunteerism August 19, 2008 Sumana Bounchan

What is Volunteerism

Definition used by Australian Volunteers International, as being someone who:  Works for the benefit of the community and the volunteer;  Works of their own free will;  Is not mainly motivated by payment;  May receive support (financial or otherwise) but not a salary;  Works in the not-for-profit sector;  Is not full-time staff of an organization

Volunteerism is the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivated by financial gain. Volunteer may have special training as rescuers, guides, assistants, teachers, missionaries, amature radio operators, writers, and in other positions. But the majority work on an impromptu basis, recognizing a need and filling it. (Wikipedia)

Why Volunteerism

Theories of volunteerism say that people can be mobilized to participate in the development of their communities. When people volunteer, civic participation and social capital increase. Furthermore, these kinds of civic participation are essential to building democratic societies.Theories of volunteerism say that people can be mobilized to participate in the development of their communities. When people volunteer, civic participation and social capital increase. Furthermore, these kinds of civic participation are essential to building democratic societies. Why Volunteerism

Also it can have added unforeseen effects, such as personal development and improving the quality of local governance.Also it can have added unforeseen effects, such as personal development and improving the quality of local governance.

Why Volunteerism Positive effects in the following priority areas of the government’s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) : promoting access to education (including survival rates and access to further education) and improving its quality;

reducing poverty through increasing agricultural skills, decreasing interest rates and providing long-term flexible credit; reducing household vulnerability to shocks, especially related to health care; increasing lawfulness and peace in community,

including enhancing legal protection for women; promoting agricultural diversification; engaging young people so that they avoid harmful activities (such as violence and use of drugs); promoting civic engagement and good local governance.

There is also an emerging role for youth as volunteers. A recent survey of university students found that 30% had volunteered, demonstrating that volunteerism is one avenue that young people use for gaining valuable work experience that may help them secure employment in a competitive job market (Mysliwiec 2005)

“[W]hen youth are positively engaged through service, research indicates that social capital and citizenship increase … service fosters trust between citizens and helps develop norm of solidarity and reciprocity which are essential to stable communities” Innovations in Civic Participation (2004)

Creating a sincere interest in helping other people will provide a more fulfilling life and give you the realization that other people sometimes have problems greater than yours.

Helping in your community in some way will make you also a more caring, concerned person. Success comes from many areas! Remember that everything you give to others comes back to you tenfold.

Youth

Youth Age hierarchies strongly influence both the patterns of leadership and young people’s civic participation, often resulting in youth being marginalized and undervalued in development initiatives.Age hierarchies strongly influence both the patterns of leadership and young people’s civic participation, often resulting in youth being marginalized and undervalued in development initiatives.

Cambodia has an overwhelmingly young population, 38 percent being under 15 years old (NIS 2004).

Hierarchy of knowledge Older community-based volunteers interviewed openly argued that young people could not work for community well- being because they “lack knowledge”, although, when probed, they could not specify what knowledge would be required.

Young people can play a role in skills transfer to communities to reach development goals, such as increasing access to education or developing new agricultural skills.

Young people could contribute significantly to rural development if given the opportunity to do so!

Quotations…

“Youth have also gained positive effects from volunteer work, such as gathering them to educate them to be the social capital of the community. As a result, the majority of youth in the community have changed attitude and are not involved in drugs, gangs and bad behavior.”

“We acknowledge that helping each other is very important, so working through volunteers is a contribution to awareness- raising, especially for the next generation, so that they can help each other.”

“We challenge youth that they need to volunteer and learn endurance, and it equips them so that they can find good jobs. We want to educate youth, because they are the ones who build community resources. They have the capacity and ability, so that they can help to reduce bad activities, and will help to develop society, to build human resources and build social stability.” KYA

“I want to join so that we know about society. I want to know about the projects – for instance, what they have done. I want to have experience so that we can implement it ourselves.” a volunteer youth

“I can facilitate in a group, feel braver in sharing ideas and be patient in difficult work, because I have had difficulties before in the club’s work.” a volunteer youth

“Since I joined the club, I feel more confident. I have met a lot of people and have a lot of older friends. I dare to talk to people higher up, have understanding about drug problems, have take the lessons about drugs and shown them to other people.”

“Now people in the community know how to respect each other and can help each other. Before, they did not allow their girl children to go and learn, but now they let their girls go and learn.” Commune peace monitor

“I want my child to learn a lot so that he can have knowledge and find a good job in the future…Now my child can read and knows a lot. He can read the writing on the TV [in English], he reads books at home…I want my child to go and learn.” Parent

How to get involve

There are over 600 local and international NGOs in Cambodia.There are over 600 local and international NGOs in Cambodia. Observe your communityObserve your community Go to Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) to Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) Go to yellow pageGo to yellow page …

References Youth Star Cambodia, Eleanor Brown (2008), Volunteerism: harnessing the potential to develop Cambodia Carol B. Evans (2005), Volunteerism and hobbies Wikipedia.org (2008), Volunteerism Globalteer.org (2008), Volunteer in Cambodia