Volunteering and Giving Back to the Community
Helping Out Might be the First Step to Positive Social Change
May 11, 2009
Last month, April 19-25 Canada celebrated National Volunteer Week. Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq said that volunteers contributed over 2 billion hours each year to various projects and aspects in society. The U.K. honours volunteers in June, it's 25th anniversary; Australia estimates 700,000 volunteer hours each year and gives the volunteers credit in May.
In 2004 the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating showed that:
- 12 million Canadians or 45% of the population over 15 years old volunteer
- the few (25%) contributed the most hours (77%)
- youth had the highest rate of volunteering; seniors contributed the most hours; BC gave the most hours per person
- sports & recreation, social services, and education & research were the three main areas of volunteering
Reasons For Giving Back To The Community
The three most cited motivations to volunteerism were: 1) to contribute to the community; 2) to share one's skills and experiences; and 3) having a connection to an organization that required help. Interestingly, being religiously active and/or having a university degree were common factors among the top volunteers.
Shauna Benson (interview, May 8/09) is a Victoria volunteer who fits the profile, since 47% of volunteers organize, supervise or coordinate activities. Her motto is indicative of a volunteering trait too, "the secret of getting ahead is getting started". She has often organized the volunteer component of events such as the UCI BMX World Championship and the RBC Jr. A Hockey Tournament held in Victoria, B.C. She trained and managed over 200 volunteers in each event. Benson also sits on the Advisory Committee for Junior Achievement.
An events coordinator at her work, she was asked to volunteer her project management and people skills. She prides herself on making the experiences for volunteers a worthwhile one. "It is important for a volunteer to feel appreciated," she adds. Benson says she benefits also from knowing the breadth of other communities and organizations who contribute to an event; volunteering shows that we are not alone.
Making a Difference In The Community
Statistics Canada lists the several ways volunteers give value-added service to community life.
- almost half raise funds
- over a third are unpaid members of committees or boards
- about a third teach, mentor, or counsel
- a quarter prepare, serve or deliver food
First Nations talk of the 7th Generation, that our actions must consider the consequences for the ones who will come along after us. It implies sustainability and a sense of otherness. Jane Jacobs, an activist and life-long volunteer would concur. She dedicated her life to volunteer projects that improved city life and her legacy still promotes those concepts with a Jane Jacobs Prize.
As American journalist Tom Brokaw once said, "It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference". Volunteering is the first step.
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