The role of volunteering in the state social policy implementation (on the example of the city of Magnitogorsk)

Abstract

Currently, volunteering plays a significant role in the implementation of the state social policy. On the one hand, the number of volunteers is growing, but, on the other hand, there are many questions and problems regarding the participation of people in volunteer activities. In order to study the attitude of young people to volunteering, their motives, and willingness to participate, a survey among 1st year university students majoring in Social Work was conducted. The choice of respondents was not random: their future profession of a social work specialist is directly related to the state social policy implementation. It was found that most of all young people are attracted to volunteering by a noble idea, the possibility of gaining new experience, self-realization, and new opportunities and hobbies. Thus, young people often begin to volunteer in order to satisfy their needs and interests in the first place. A novice volunteer can form humanistic values and the need to help people while being in the community united by the idea of helping others. An example is the activities of the all-Russian social movement "Volunteers of Victory", in particular, its branch in the city of Magnitogorsk. "Volunteers of Victory" cooperate with the city social service institutions, helping to solve various social problems, organize events for the patriotic education of children and youth, and conduct educational work, thereby contributing to the creation of a socio-cultural environment aimed at educating a socially active person and to the solution of topical social issues.