Exploring dimensions of satisfaction experienced by student volunteers

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe significance of involving young volunteers in various projects, notably students of colleges and universities, cannot be underestimated: such global events as Olympics or Soccer World Cup would hardly take place without them. However, non-profit organizations find it challenging to retain such volunteers, as the majority of students take part in social campaigns only occasionally. This research employs a complex qualitative methodology to investigate a specific case of a student volunteer group in one of Canada’s universities with a relatively low turnover rate. It is suggested that the satisfaction obtained during fulfilling voluntary tasks defines the willingness and the likelihood of students to stay in a group. The analysis of collected data revealed four principal emotions associated with the satisfaction of young volunteers: sense of freedom, sense of belonging, hope of positive externalities, and sense of fulfillment. Several managerial and theoretical contributions conclude this paper.