Volunteer Experience Research Articles

Driving Innovation and Removing Barriers: Forrest Shull Takes the Helm as 2021 IEEE Computer Society President

Marking the 75th anniversary of the IEEE Computer Society (CS), Computer is launching this new President's Profile format and has asked Megha Ben, the chair of IEEE CS's Student and Young Professional Activities, to talk with CS President Forrest Shull about how his active volunteering experiences - including as IEEE Software's editor in chief and a Board of Governors member - have shaped his leadership style, career, and vision for the future. Sharing his experiences and driving technical interests, he highlights his priorities for the coming year, including increasing the Society's focus on the needs of the student and young professional members, given the key role they play in our future success.

Older Adult Volunteers in Intergenerational Programs in Educational Settings Across the Globe

Volunteerism is a global phenomenon that aids multiple generations. Considering the positive evidence of volunteering among older adults and their desire for intergenerational engagement, it is important to explore older adult volunteers’ experiences in intergenerational programs with a specific focus on the cultural and social impacts of volunteering in educational settings in later years. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, 43 interviews with older adult volunteers (23 in Korea and 20 in the USA) in intergenerational programs were conducted. Participants were recruited from the Beautiful Story Grandma (BSG) in Korea and the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) in the USA in 2019. Due to the prescribed nature of the BSG, all of the Korean volunteers were female. The USA volunteers from the FGP included three African Americans, one Asian, and 16 White older adults. Two FGP volunteers were male. Korean participants lived primarily in Busan Metropolitan city (mean age: 63, range: 61-73). The USA volunteers were from urban/suburban areas New York State (mean age: 74, range: 60-84). Two major themes emerged from the interviews revolving around the role of culture and other demographics in the experience of volunteering: (1) Older adults experience benefits from volunteering to support the younger generation that transcend demographic and geographic differences; and, (2) distinctive cultural views of education lead to different experiences of volunteering in the two countries. The comparative research highlights the need for development of a model for culturally responsive practice with older adult volunteers in a global context.

The Relationship Between Lifespan Volunteerism and Personality Among Oldest Old Adults

There has been a lack of studies exploring volunteerism from the life span perspective. This study aims to examine the relationship between personality and volunteerism among the oldest old population, using three types of volunteerism: “ever volunteered,” “last volunteered,” and “currently volunteering.” “Ever volunteered” assesses whether individuals ever volunteered in their life. “Last volunteered” examines when an individual last volunteered. “Currently volunteering” explores whether an individual is currently volunteering. By comparing the three volunteerism measures, this study took a life span view of volunteerism. Data of 208 oldest old adults, octogenarians (34.1%) and centenarians (65.9%), from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. The majority of the sample had volunteered sometime during their lifetime (88.9%), many of them still volunteered when they were in their 80s and 90s (40.4%), and the majority of the sample indicated that they were not currently volunteering (78.8%). Multiple regression analyses indicated that competence (a facet of conscientiousness) significantly predicted “ever volunteered,” and extraversion significantly predicted “last volunteered.” In other words, oldest old adults with high competence levels were more likely to have volunteering experiences in their life. Also, those with high levels of extraversion were likely to have more recent volunteering experiences. None of five personality traits significantly predicted “currently volunteering.” This study sheds light on the importance of different types of volunteerism which enables us to better understand the relationship between volunteerism and personality. We recommend future research to test the link between different types of volunteerism and well-being outcomes.

Организация волонтерской деятельности в период пандемии COVID-19

In recent years, there has been a tendency for the active growth of volunteer (volunteer) activities not only in Russia, but also abroad. Volunteering is one of the most effective ways to solve socially significant tasks of the state. At present, it is already difficult to imagine any sphere of human activity without the participation of volunteers (volunteers). The author analyzed the organization of volunteer (volunteer) activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia and abroad. Particular attention in the article is paid to specific examples of the activities of volunteer organizations in large cities of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod). The results of a questionnaire survey of participants of volunteer organizations are presented, the leading motives of their activities are revealed. Volunteer experience in other countries is characterized, similarities and differences are revealed.

Conceptualising landscapes of learning in the United Kingdom’s volunteer football sector

ABSTRACT From grassroots to mega-event level, the sport sector has long-relied on volunteers to function effectively. While the nature of sport volunteering varies, scholars have identified that volunteerism is built around characteristics (e.g. altruism, civic participation, acquisition of social capital, personal and professional development) that draw individuals together and contribute to a sense of community. In providing sites for life-skills training, mentoring, coaching, and/or leadership, volunteer communities in sport are also informal and formal learning environments. Notwithstanding research examining learning opportunities within individual volunteer experiences, work remains on articulating the ideological, structural and experiential complexities of volunteering as pedagogical terrain. To illuminate some of these educational nuances, this paper interrogates the experiences of a cohort of regional football volunteers in the United Kingdom. Drawing on spatial theory, we utilise a holistic framework comprising thought, production and action space to understand volunteer communities and opportunities for learning therein. We draw data from questionnaires, and focus groups undertaken with volunteers working in one of the UK’s largest provinces. We contend that football volunteerism comprises a potentially rich context in which an array of learning opportunities exist that can be nurtured and enacted upon over volunteers’ life courses. Educational characteristics of volunteering, or the creation of effective learning communities in the sector are not, however, always guaranteed. Rather, individual and collective investments may be required by both volunteers and supporting organisations. Furthering recent criticisms of the wider sport sector, and beyond affording greater appreciation of volunteer learning, we advocate for a rethink of organisation’s ethical responsibilities and resourcing vis-à-vis educational duties of care and sustainability.

An International Study Exploring the Experience of Survivors of Critical Illness as Volunteers Within ICU Recovery Services.

Qualitative exploration using in-depth semistructured interviews. The study design used an inductive content analysis process. We also documented the roles that were adopted by volunteers in each site involved in the study. Patients and caregivers were sampled from seven sites across three continents. Patients and caregivers who had adopted peer-volunteering roles were undertaken. None. Twelve patient and caregiver peer volunteers were interviewed. Four key themes were identified. These themes related to the experience of volunteers within ICU recovery services and their motivation for undertaking these roles: 1) self-belief and acceptance, 2) developing peer support, 3) social roles and a sense of purpose, and 4) giving back. Overwhelmingly, participants were positive about the role of the volunteer in the critical care setting. Peer volunteers undertake a variety of roles in ICU recovery services and during recovery more generally. These roles appear to be of direct benefit to those in these roles. Future research is needed to develop these roles and fully understand the potential impact on the service, including the impact on other patients.

Mobilizing affect in the search for self-transformation: A case study of volunteer transformation in orphanage tourism

Emerging work in tourism has focused on the affective dimensions of student volunteer experiences across diverse cultural landscapes. Affect shapes how volunteers interpret their experiences in the developing world and make sense of themselves through these engagements. Synthesizing theoretical approaches of affect management/mobilization and frame analysis, this research contributes to affect theory by presenting a case study on how affect is managed and mobilized by a charismatic leader to elicit particular responses within the volunteer experience. Through intimate engagements with orphans and other American volunteers on the trip, participants visiting Malawi experience a poor, Christian yet joyful place that the leader contrasts to American inauthenticity. The leader prepares students for an emotionally charged experience meant to lead volunteers to self-transformation.

Overcoming the social stigma of consuming food waste by dining at the Open Table

Stigma is often encountered by recipients who receive food donations from charities, while the consumption of wasted food, also traditionally considered to be a stigmatized practice, has recently become part of a popular food rescue movement that seeks to reduce environmental impacts. These two stigmas—charitable donation and the consumption of waste—are brought together at the Open Table, a community group in Melbourne, Australia, that serves community meals cooked from surplus food. This paper examines how Open Table de-stigmatizes food donations through food waste discourse to enable greater social inclusion. I draw on the experiences of donors, cooks, volunteers and eaters gathered from diverse Open Table sites. Taking a ‘follow-the-thing’ approach, I analyze how food ‘waste’ becomes re-valued by embracing goals of environmental justice enacted through local processes of care and conviviality. Relying on networks of volunteers and not-for-profit agencies, Open Table provides a simple, effective and adaptable model for possible replication for overcoming drawbacks of traditional charity practices. Critically though, as hunger in society continues to grow, this approach is increasingly threatened by the need to ‘single out’ disadvantaged recipients to justify continued supply. This paper contributes to food poverty, waste, and Alternative Food Network literature in two important ways: first, by analyzing the outcomes of community food redistribution approaches with regards to stigma and inclusion; and secondly, by arguing that such holistic approaches need to be acknowledged, valued and supported to shift current discourses and practice.

Volunteerism, mental health, and well-being in the lesbian, gay and bisexual community

ABSTRACT Volunteerism plays a vital role in connecting individuals with various communities to provide numerous forms of altruistic service across the US. However, little is known about the numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender diverse and queer+ (LGBTQ+) people who engage in volunteer roles and community engagement activities, and the impact this may have upon their well-being and mental health. This secondary analysis of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals (N = 71, weighted) from the 2018 General Social Survey compares volunteerism, mental health, and perceptions of well-being among LGB volunteers and non-volunteers. Findings reveal that as many as 49% of LGB people in the sample that had volunteer experience self-reported that volunteering activities resulted in a lower median number of days of poor mental health (four days in the last 30 days) when compared to the poor mental health reported by non-volunteers (eight days). Implications for the field of social work, volunteerism, and the potential impact upon LGBTQ+ individuals engaging in volunteer efforts are examined.

Up the leash: Exploring canine handlers’ perceptions of volunteering in canine-assisted interventions

ABSTRACT
 To date, research on canine-assisted interventions has focused on identifying the effects of spending time with therapy dogs on the well-being of participants and, to a lesser extent, exploring the effects of canine-assisted interventions on therapy dogs as a means of safeguarding canine welfare. Little empirical attention has focused on understanding the experience of volunteer canine handlers – agents at the heart of the success of canine-assisted interventions. The aim of this exploratory research was to first capture the voice of handlers to better understand their experience as volunteers and second to provide preliminary insights into their well-being. Sixty volunteer handlers with varying volunteer experience with a canine therapy program at a mid-size Canadian university responded to a series of open-ended prompts related to their volunteer work and completed a battery of well-being measures. Qualitative findings revealed that most participants identified social benefits to volunteering for themselves (64%) and for their dog (55%). The perceived impact on students (33%) and the ability to help university students (36%) were the most rewarding aspects of volunteering. Although drawn to volunteer by the program itself (36%), motivations to continue volunteering were predominantly associated with personal benefits of volunteering (44%). Most handlers reported no challenges associated with volunteering (73%) and qualified their dog as happy after sessions (71%). Participants commonly described good therapy dogs as relaxed, calm, and respectful (66%) and strong handlers as having good awareness of their dog (48%). Quantitative findings revealed volunteer handlers reported elevated levels of positive affect (p = < 0.001, d = 1.19), greater satisfaction with life (p = < 0.001, d = 0.85) and lower levels of avoidant attachment to their therapy dog (p = < 0.001, d = -1.16) when compared to normative samples. Implications for the governing of on-campus programs and handler well-being are discussed.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ СОБЫТИЙНОГО ВОЛОНТЕРСТВА НА МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ СПОРТИВНЫХ МЕРОПРИЯТИЯХ: ИЗ ОПЫТА ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ КУБКА МИРА ПО ФРИСТАЙЛУ

Statement of the problem. Today, promotion and development of volunteers’ activities is considered one of the priority areas for the youth and social state policy. The importance of studying volunteer activities is explained by the fact that soon a number of large-scale events will take place on the territory of our country and the city; experienced and qualified volunteers will definitely come in handy to organize and carry out them successfully. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the work of volunteers at a major sporting event. The research methodology is based on the analysis of literary sources; questionnaires; methods of mathematical data processing. Research results. The categories of people who are engaged in volunteer activities were identified; functional areas that are most in demand were established; the experience and competence of volunteers at this event was assessed; the factors that induce volunteers to participate in the organization of a major sporting event were identified. Conclusion. In the course of the study, the features of the work of volunteers at major sporting events were identified. The reasons for the emerging difficulties associated with the communication of the volunteer staff with athletes and spectators are identified, and the problems of organizing volunteer support at the venue are analyzed. The factors of motivation for youth participation in volunteer activities are considered.

Dog-assisted interventions in care homes: A qualitative exploration of the nature, meaning and impact of interactions for older people.

Dog-assisted interventions (DAI) have been shown to have a wide-range of potential benefits for older adults living in care homes. Yet, there is a lack of published qualitative research which explores the experiences of care home residents, staff and dog-owner volunteers involved in DAI to fully understand its meaning, impact and value. This study aimed to explore the impact of a DAI on the social and emotional wellbeing of older residents living in care homes. The research employed a qualitative study design comprising overt, naturalistic researcher observation of weekly DAI sessions with 54 older adult residents across four participating care homes in the South East region of England over 3months in 2018. Data were also collected through focus groups with 12 care home staff and 7 dog-owner volunteers. The data from the observations and focus groups was individually coded followed by thematic analysis across the three data sources. Findings demonstrated there were clear benefits for older people who engaged with DAI, as well as for dog-owners and to some extent for care home staff members. Benefits included sensory, emotional stimulation and opportunities for social interaction, reminiscence on early life experiences and these were supported by the development of some new social relationships. While there were some environmental challenges to implementing DAI, the findings confirm its value for care home residents, with minimal drawbacks from an organizational standpoint. As a low cost intervention, adoption of DAI in care home settings appeared to strengthen relationships between residents and staff and enable wider relationships with an external community resource.

The Socialisation and Interaction in the Volunteer Experience

Volunteering experience is believed to provide the potential for the socialisation and interaction of the participants. By means of observations, focus group and interviews, the research attempts to analyse the volunteering process and attitude shifts in relation to volunteering. Findings of the research confirm that apart from helping the destinations, volunteers develop their personalities and attitudes towards life during their journey of helping children in rural China. A wide range of interactions and socialisation opportunities take place before, during, and after volunteering. Volunteers benefit in the confirmation of self-value, interaction, learning and socialisation. The research concludes that volunteering makes notable contribution to youth development and poverty alleviation.

The psychological contract and volunteering: A systematic review

AbstractThis paper explores the use of the concept of the psychological contract in investigating the experience of volunteers and its potential to help develop strategies to attract, retain, and support volunteers and the mission of non‐profit organizations who their efforts support, through a systematic review of what we know about the psychological contract in relation to volunteers. Following the PRISMA, PIECES, and Warwick protocols, we conducted a search of empirical research in business and broader social sciences and humanities databases. From the initial 6,042 studies reviewed, 29 met the inclusion criteria that focused on peer‐reviewed journal articles published in English. The research questions and findings investigated by these studies were categorized using Alcover, Rico, Turnley, and Bolino's (2017) multiple‐exchange model of the PC: PC formation and development, information‐seeking behavior, identification (of the nature of the PC), PC fulfillment, and PC breach. We propose new directions for research on PC and volunteering, including suggestions for research methods and contexts.

The Relationship between Volunteer Experience and Career Decision Level of University Students Majoring in Social Welfare : The Mediating Effects of Self-Efficacy and Community Consciousness

The Relationship between Volunteer Experience and Career Decision Level of University Students Majoring in Social Welfare : The Mediating Effects of Self-Efficacy and Community Consciousness

Fostering Certainty in an Uncertain Era of Virtual Residency Interviews.

Fostering Certainty in an Uncertain Era of Virtual Residency Interviews.

Volunteer-Operated Field Medical Tents During Civilian Protests in Beirut, Lebanon: Challenges and Lessons

In October 2019, the worsening political, economic, and perceived corruption in Lebanon led to civil unrest. In anticipation of injuries, a group of healthcare professionals and social activists summoned paramedics, nurses, and physicians through social media, to provide medical assistance in the protest area. These volunteers established a physician-led advanced first-aid tent, whose aim was to reduce the patient load on Emergency Departments in local hospitals. We present the experience of volunteers, lessons learned, and challenges faced during the establishment of the physician-led first aid tent. In this manuscript, we discuss the following aspects of our efforts that can serve as relevant lessons we learned about medical volunteerism: spontaneity in volunteerism, operations, location and storage, supplies, roaming team, coordination with emergency services, safety, documentation, communication, special situations, and transition from acute to primary care.

Saving tradition in Japan: a case study of local opinions regarding urban university students’ participation in rural festivals

Many traditional festivals in rural Japan are at risk of dying out owing to depopulation of villages. One countermeasure that could save these festivals from extinction is the involvement of non-local youth, in particular university students. In today’s Japan, university students are trying to begin building volunteer experience and developing their careers by participating in local community activities such as festivals. However, conflicts that may occur in such situations due to cultural differences or for other reasons are not yet fully understood. This research provides a case study of village residents’ attitudes toward non-local youth’s participation in a festival, the Kumakabuto-Hatsuka-Matsuri, held annually in Ishikawa Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region. Logistic regression analysis using survey data yielded some informative findings. First, locals’ closed attitude toward participation by non-local youth is correlated with age, gender, and poorer relationships with local administrators and regional leaders. However, it was also found that a form of self-consciousness peculiar to Japan, that is, consciousness of the desire to be perceived well by others, did not apply to the maintenance of festivals. Further studies using different methods of data collection and statistical analysis are needed to obtain more generalizable findings; nevertheless, this study has revealed the attributes of people who think that local people should manage the traditional festivals in rural Japanese areas. This is a useful knowledge that administrative leaders and researchers of the region should take into consideration when introducing participation of students in such festivals to make it more effective.

Rapid Adoption of Telehealth at an Interprofessional Student-Run Free Clinic.

Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) have become important primary care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. With students pulled from clinical sites, funding deficits, SRFCs' voluntary nature, and no best practices for telehealth SRFCs, many have been forced to close. This report shares a systematic approach for implementing a telehealth clinic along with initial outcomes from the Dedicated to Aurora's Wellness and Needs (DAWN) SRFC. We utilized pilots with students, community volunteers, and patients to identify a telehealth platform. We implemented weekly plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles to develop a feasible interprofessional telehealth model. Key PDSA cycle goals included seamless utilization of platform, identification of necessary team members, appropriate scheduling of patients and volunteers, integration of interprofessional learners, positive patient and volunteer experience, and process for identifying and addressing patient social needs. Measured outcomes included total visits, no-show rates, and chief complaints addressed. Outcomes from PDSA cycles included a resultant telehealth clinic team and model, workflow for outreach for social needs screening and navigation, and team training guides. Visit data and no-show rates from January 2020 through July 2020 demonstrated total visits returned to 60% of pre-COVID numbers while no-show rates decreased significantly below pre-COVID rates. A range of acute and chronic concerns were successfully managed via telehealth. SRFCs are poised to continue serving an important role in caring for the country's most vulnerable populations. The DAWN telehealth implementation process, outcomes, and resultant protocols may help inform other SRFCs seeking to establish telehealth services.

Pathways to Leadership: Reflections of Recent Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Leaders During Conception and Launch of the Inclusion, Diversity, Access, and Equity Movement Within the IDSA.

Opportunities for leadership in the specialty of infectious diseases (ID) have markedly increased over the last decade, including in newly recognized areas. Commensurate with the expansion of opportunities in ID, pathways to leadership positions within the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are expanding as the Society seeks to advance the field for IDSA members. Acknowledging both the importance of diverse leaders to organizational success and shortfalls in diverse representation within IDSA leadership led to concentrated efforts to enhance transparency and opportunities for members to participate broadly in the work of IDSA. Herein, IDSA leaders reflect on their paths to IDSA leadership, hoping to help guide members seeking to partner with the Society. Features identified as important to individual success include mentorship, networking, participation in ID and IDSA volunteer experiences, passion for ID, and working with IDSA staff to advance the programs and initiatives of IDSA on behalf of members.