Theoretical Framework for the Development of Community Sense

Abstract

The paper focuses on the quite original and not much discussed subject of the relationship between volunteerism and community sense, whose support in Czech society has great potential for the development and functioning of a humane-oriented civil society. First, the paper depicts both concepts and capacity of volunteering utilization in the development of the community sense. Then it emphasizes two promising ways of volunteering support that take into account the educational and developmental context. These are the development of prosocial values and positive shaping of youth happiness. As the presented findings indicate, the individual happiness impacts on both the individual’s prosocial orientation and willingness to volunteer that is enhanced also by prosocial values.