Responses
to April 2006 Hot Topic
What's
the value of volunteering?
Response
posted on April 19, 2006 by Sue Jones, Training Project
Manager & Volunteer Coordinator, Warrington Volunteer
Centre, United Kingdom
Wow! What a deeply provocative
set of random thoughts! I read both the original article
and your essay with great interest. Being based in
the UK, we have already begun the lead up to recruiting
volunteers for the Olympics in 2012, and I think what
I think is this.
Volunteering
(like most things in life) is a highly subjective
and relative experience, and therefore we cannot 'pass
judgement' in saying that one activity is clearly
more worthwhile than another. Whilst at first look,
it is easy to claim that sending aid to a third world
country is a more effective way of spending government
money, we need to step back, however and reflect on
the possibilities that are created as a result of
individuals participating in any kind of voluntary
work. Any activity is surely measured by the impact
it has on others - but it is difficult to capture
the true extent of an impact in a prescriptive, formulaic
way and I don't think you can say that the value of
volunteering should be tied in to the direct benefit
others receive as a result. We just need to accept
that anything that raises the profile of volunteering
is a good thing and where individuals are encouraged
to give up their time freely and the experience is
a positive one - this will surely open up for them
(and therefore others), a whole world of possibilities.
I do concede that some areas of volunteering sometimes
seem to receive more funding than others, but like
sporting events - it's often that it goes around and
comes around and therefore we need to seize opportunities
when the spotlight is focused in our direction.
Response
posted on April 10, 2006 by DJ Cronin, Volunteer Program
Manager, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
The
authors article was certainly thought provoking and
I did find it interesting and challenging. He clearly
had a strong opinion of which he is entitled to. I
must say that initially I empathised with him. Volunteering
for an Olympics or a Commonwealth Games is such a
glossy affair. Yes, there may be many motivations
behind a person wanting to volunteer for such events.
And those volunteers may indeed volunteer for more
“worthy” causes. And are there more worthy
causes? My answer is that there must be. In calling
a spade a spade I say that there is more value in
volunteering to go out on the streets on a cold wet
night to bring some food and comfort to a homeless
person than there is telling a jovial spectator where
the MCG is located. I also believe the extravagance
and costs behind these sporting events are excessive
given that many community groups struggle for funding.
Still, it looks good for Governments doesn’t
it that so praise the thousands of volunteers. Great
accolades all round. And yet when millions around
the world, on that wonderful but now sadly forgotten
Sunday, volunteered to march showing their opposition
to War in Iraq, they were simply ignored by Governments.
The fireworks that lit up the night sky over Melbourne
were certainly prettier than the missiles that lit
up over Baghdad!
Volunteers for
Peace - now there’s an organisation awaiting
birth!
Response
posted on April 10, 2006 by Rosemary Kavanagh
Volunteering
is an act of giving - of oneself for the benefit of
others. As a volunteer firefighter, in just one of
my volunteering capacities, I can assure you that
each member of the team contributes to the successful
outcome. No one person has more value than any other.
They may have more experience, special abilities etc.
But it is the nature of volunteering that people get
involved and learn and then they become the more experienced.The
key is identifying the special abilities of each volunteer
and encouraging and assisting them to develop those
skills to their full potential.Then using those skills
for the benefit of the community in whatever capacity.
Every
volunteering organisation and its members contribute
to the strengthening of the fabric of our society.
It doesn't matter whether it is the Junior U5 soccer
team or the State Emergency Services. Each person
who volunteers regardless of the type of activity
contributes No task is too small. Little steps taken
often will cover a greater distance and maintain the
endurance needed to achieve the desired result. There
are usually no kudos involved just a lot of hard work
and no recognition outside the immediate organisation.
.
Funding for volunteer organisations seems to depend
on the ability of the organisation to lobby effectively
for funds and then to negotiate an equitable distribution
of funds within each organisation. We get the governments
we deserve. The politicians reflect the values and
mores of the society around them. Volunteers by their
very nature generally just get in and do what needs
to be done. We are not media savvy as a whole and
certainly do not beat our chests and tell the world
what wonderful individuals we are.
While
it is sad that there are many places in the world
where volunteers could assist, the fact remains that
our lives are here and many of us will never have
the opportunity to physically relocate to assist others
outside Australia. It would be unreasonable to do
nothing for anyone. Who knows through some of our
stay at home volunteer organisations we may be inspiring
the next great philanthropist.
Let's
hear what you think!
Its
not too late...
Let's
hear what you think!
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