Volunteer Movement Research Articles

КОРПУС МИРУ В КОНТЕКСТІ «НОВИХ ГОРИЗОНТІВ» ПОЛІТИКИ ДЖОНА ФІЦДЖЕРАЛЬДА КЕННЕДІ

he article reflects the question of the volunteer movement as an integral policy of the US President J. F. Kennedy after the Second World War. The activity of the Peace Corps, founded by the 35th president of the USA, is analyzed. The purpose of the article is to analyze the main aspects of the Peace Corps activity as a component of the US President J. F. Kennedy’s «New Horizons» policy in the context of the possibility of development and use of volunteer activities in the implementation of the country’s foreign policy. The work uses general scientific methods of knowledge: historical (reveals the factors of the formation and development of the Peace Corps in historical retrospect), systemic (makes it possible to draw a complete picture of J. F. Kennedy’s foreign policy related to the struggle between democracy and totalitarianism), axiological (determines the value the essence of the institutionalization of volunteerism, its content as a type of social activity that has a humanistic potential for strengthening peace and friendship between people of different nationalities and cultures). The scientific novelty of the obtained results consists in obtaining a holistic systemic view of the peculiarities of the implementation of US state policy in the field of regulation of volunteer activities for solving foreign policy tasks. Conclusions. Summing up, the author confirms the importance of the Peace Corps as the most important element of the strategy of the US President J. F. Kennedy, which consisted in the need to reorient the US foreign policy in the Third World countries from the ideology of mutual security to the global rails of development after the Second World War. It is noted that J. F. Kennedy’s «New Horizons» policy found its embodiment in the creation of the Peace Corps, which has successfully survived decades and is still functioning, serving as an example of the activation of volunteerism in Ukraine at the beginning of the XXI century. It is emphasized that before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war on February 24, 2022, more than 300 American volunteers of the Peace Corps worked in Ukraine, which made Ukraine the largest representation of this organization in the world. Since the start of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, Peace Corps volunteers have left the country, but continue to coordinate nationwide efforts in support of Ukrainians, organizing charitable donations, sending needed goods to Ukraine, and using their social media to engage the public in support of Ukraine.

Prerequisites for the volunteer movement formation in the field of special education in Ukraine (XIX – early XX century)

Prerequisites for the volunteer movement formation in the field of special education in Ukraine (XIX – early XX century)

Республика Абхазия и СВО на Украине

The article examines the impact of the special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine on the foreign and domestic policies of the Republic of Abkhazia. The authors point to the factors that determine the positioning of Abkhazia in relation to SVO in a broad historical context. In particular, the Georgian-Ukrainian alliance is shown during the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993, within the framework of post-Soviet supranational entities (GUUAM bloc), as well as during the “color revolutions” of 2003-2004. In addition, the issue of Abkhazia’s relationship to the people’s republics of Donbass before the SVO was considered. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the reaction of the Abkhaz leadership and society to the Russian-Georgian “warming” and the possibility of opening a “second front” against Abkhazia. The phenomenon of the Abkhaz volunteer movement (the international brigade “Pyatnashka”) and its influence on Abkhaz political life are examined separately.

Volunteerism in the Republic of Tatarstan

This article investigates volunteerism within the Republic of Tatarstan, offering a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon. Its purpose is to analyze the landscape of volunteerism, considering legal frameworks, motivations, and challenges. The research relies on a sociological inquiry conducted in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2023. This investigation, a broad-scale survey targeting volunteers aged between 14 to 35 years, furnishes insights into the practices young individuals engage in as volunteers, alongside offering a snapshot of the current landscape and potential future of volunteerism in the region. The analysis points towards a promising trajectory of volunteerism within the republic, underscoring the pivotal role governmental entities play in fostering the growth of this movement locally. However, it is posited that the forward momentum of this domain within the republic is contingent upon a synergistic relationship between the volunteers and the state, viewed as a crucial facilitator. A profound interrelation is identified between the altruistic aspirations of volunteers to effectuate societal transformation and their own tangible career and material aspirations. In conclusion, the article proffers insights and recommendations stemming from the author’s research, shedding light on the future direction and enhancement of the volunteer movement in the republic.

РОЛЬ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙ ГРОМАДЯНСЬКОГО СУСПІЛЬСТВА ЯК БУСТЕРА РОЗВИТКУ ДЕМОКРАТИЧНОЇ ПОЛІТИЧНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ЗАКАРПАТСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ)

This article analyzes the influence of civil society organizations on Political culture formation through their involvement in the decision-making process. The crucial features of the region’s civic society made it possible to find out the type of political culture inherent among inhabitants of Transcarpathian region of modern time. The regularity of the development of civil society during the crisis period in Ukraine, in particular in the Transcarpathian region, has been determined. It is argued that the war became a consolidating factor in society. The data on the existing directions in which the CSOs of the Transcarpathian region work are summarized. Furthermore, the study determines the regularities of the development of the volunteer movement in the region. The article characterizes the economic potential of civil society organizations using national and international fund resources. The need to encourage the population to form CSOs as a driver of the development of democratic political culture at the local and national levels is substantiated. Moreover, the study updates the influence of decentralization processes on the development of civil society, the level of participation of citizens in the political life of the region, and interest in the economic and resource development of the region on the example of the Transcarpathian region. The research highlights particular instruments of cross-border cooperation, in which participation is possible for non-governmental, educational, scientific, sports entities of the region. Recommendations have been developed regarding the necessary steps on the way to the further intensification of the civil movement and the creation of CSOs with the aim of developing a democratic political culture.

ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЯ КУЛЬТУРНИХ ЛАНДШАФТІВ УКРАЇНСЬКИХ МІСТ У ТИЛУ В УМОВАХ ПОВНОМАСШТАБНОЇ ВІЙНИ

The War between the Russian Federation and Ukraine is one of the most devastating conflicts in history, with an unprecedented scale in Europe since World War II. It has a profound impact on Ukrainian society, resulting in complex changes on multiple levels, including economic, political, cultural, and social aspects. The cultural landscape of Kyiv undergoes transformations of varying intensity and nature throughout the year 2022. These processes can be caused by changes in the functions of sociocultural institutions and architectural structures, alterations in the names of urban toponyms, the placement of military posts, and defensive structures, as well as shifts in the perception of public space and associations related to the city. It has a significant impact on the identity of the city and its residents, as well as on the perception of events and public activism. Creative communities, artistic associations, and cultural and artistic-oriented civic organizations that continue their activities have adapted their work and become part of an active volunteer movement. This article aims to explore the comprehensive effects of the war on the general trends of cultural landscape transformation in Ukrainian cities. It examines various aspects of how the war has influenced Kyiv, such as its impact on the creative sector, changes in media hierarchy, the transformation of urban cultural practices, and changes in the supply and demand of cultural products and services at the local level. The article attempts to investigate and systematize the processes of cultural landscape transformation in Ukrainian cities that have not been directly involved in active combat during the ongoing war of Russia against Ukraine. By adopting a comprehensive approach, this research seeks to encompass various facets of the war's influence on cities and urban communities and facilitate an understanding of their interconnectedness with the broader trends of cultural landscape transformation

Actors in the development of non-capital industrial cities of Tatarstan in the vision and assessment of their residents

The purpose of the article the author sees as the identification of actors of non-capital industrial cities of Tatarstan, the clarification of their relationship and forms of participation in urban development. The activities of urban communities and their leaders are considered in the article from the standpoint of its perception by residents, in terms of influencing their decision to stay in the city/leave it.
 The exploratory nature of the study led to the use of the method of group problem-oriented interviews carried out by the author in 2021 during reconnaissance field trips to the cities of Tatarstan: Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, Almetyevsk, Zelenodolsk. They took place in families that made it possible to increase the number of interviewees, compare the opinions of different generations and achieve a comfortable atmosphere for conducting interviews, and were accompanied by notes.
 The study preliminary confirmed the hypothesis that the key players in non-capital industrial settlements in Russia are the municipal authorities and communities that develop around their leading enterprises. The significance of both in different cities varies, that depends on the industry, functional affiliation of industries and a number of subjective factors, primarily on the ability of leaders-managers to build a strategy and tactics of participation in urban processes. The main forms of such participation for manufacturing companies are: social support for employees, sponsorship of city events, inclusion in regional programmes to improve the urban environment and the implementation of their own projects in the field of healthcare, specialised and general education, sports, culture, and city spaces. Representatives of the city administration more often perform not only managerial functions, but also act as a link between the actors of urban processes. Individual small and medium-sized businesses take part in the latter, and the role of cultural workers depends on the development of the cultural environment of the city. The practices of urban activists are limited to single actions, although activism is revealed at the level of courtyards and volunteer movements. It has been empirically confirmed that a significant contribution to the development of the cities of Tatarstan is made by regional authorities. In the indicated context, the life strategies of citizens reveal complex trajectories that depend, among other things, on the activities of the actors under consideration that affect the level and quality of life in the city, and residents´ opportunities for self-realisation.

VOLUNTEERING: ANALYSIS OF THE REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

Volunteering as a social phenomenon has been widely discussed by scientists and specialists over the past few years. International documents proclaim the equality of citizens’ rights to participate in volunteer activities, and also emphasize the need to strengthen the volunteer movement in all countries of the world. However, there are difficulties in a single comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of “volunteering”. The article analyzes the activities of international organizations regulating volunteer work. The analysis of modern legislation after the adoption of amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation is carried out, and the possible consequences for the development of the social institution of “volunteering” in modern society are described.
 Purpose. The aim of the study is to analyze the modern comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of “volunteering”, the activities of international organizations in the development of volunteering and modern Russian legislation on volunteering.
 Methodology. The main research method was the content analysis of Russian and foreign literature on volunteering and regulatory documents (official websites of the UN, UNDP, federal authorities). To achieve the goal of the study, the methodology of system analysis was used.
 Results. The results of the work showed that volunteering is understood as a form of social service, carried out according to the free will of citizens, aimed at the disinterested provision of socially significant services at the local, national or international levels, contributing to personal growth and development of citizens (volunteers) performing this activity. The role of International Organizations is important in consolidating efforts in promoting volunteering. National governments and public institutions should work closely with voluntary organizations in setting common priorities for the development of the world. The state has recognized the importance of volunteering in its legal acts. Effective implementation of the socio-economic development of Russia is possible in partnership with civil institutions, including volunteers. Modern social challenges (pandemic COVID-19, fires, floods, etc.) reinforce and emphasize the importance of volunteering.
 Practical implications. The results of the study can be applied in the field of social and youth policy.

Концепт гражданского общества в исследованиях взаимодействия государства и волонтёрского движения

The paper presents the comparative analysis results of how the volunteers organizations interact with the government in different Russian regions, which differ in the degree of civil society institutes development. The empirical basis consists of the results of sociological survey conducted in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District and Perm Territory. The results show the contradictory nature of the political aspects of relations between volunteers and government institutions, which are difficult to interpret within the classical concept of civil society. On the one hand, the dependence of the volunteer movement on state support raises the question of its value as a civil society institution. On the other hand, it is precisely this support that ensures the role of the movement in the political socialization of citizens. As a solution to the problem we propose to clarify the semantic content of the ‘civil society’ concept.

Перспективные пути и способы содействия участию молодежи в волонтерской деятельности в контексте реализации государственной молодежной политики в Российской Федерации

Introduction. The article discusses promising ways and means of promoting youth participation in volunteering in the context of the implementation of the state youth policy in the Russian Federation, it is indicated that the state policy on volunteerism is characterized by inconsistency with the position of young people themselves regarding volunteering and its priorities. The experience of organizing the volunteer movement in Russia and foreign countries indicates that voluntary activity can be most effectively implemented within the framework of institutional structures. Methods. The research uses an analytical approach, as well as methods of comparison and abstraction. The research also relies on the phenomenological method. Results. The authors note that the state policy aimed at promoting the participation of young people in volunteer activities should include, as an integral component, the allocation of various grants and state subsidies to relevant nonprofit organizations, along with an increase in funding for volunteerism development programs.

Russian Orthodoxy is a Terrible Force

Abstract The invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops in February 2022 calls into question the legal status of the Russian Orthodox Church (headed by Patriarch Kirill) as a religious organization claiming Eastern Christian heritage. While the Russian Orthodox Church appropriates the history of Kievan Rus, the top hierarchs of the roc are guided by the ideology of servility and Bolshevism. At the same time, the Catacombers who survived the Bolshevik persecution also consider themselves part of Russian Orthodoxy. They are like the inhabitants of Kitezh-Town, the legendary sunken city hidden under water. The Catacombers are silent participants in the anti-war protest and oppose the ideas of the Russian World and nuclear Orthodoxy. They run a partisan movement of volunteers helping Ukrainian refugees. If one wonders whether Russian Orthodoxy is possible after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, then the answer is seen in the prophecy of the political scientist, V. Kramnik, about the inevitable collapse of the Russian Federation and the appearance of the Republic of Rus instead of it. Citizens of the provisional Kitezh-Town in the Republic of Rus will be the real descendants of Kievan Rus and elective affinities of the Ukrainians.

The Role of the Volunteer Movement in Modern Social Work

The Role of the Volunteer Movement in Modern Social Work

Supporting Work and Development of Employment and Career Centers in Universities by Enlisting Volunteers

The article describes the mechanism of adaptation support to work and development of employment and career centers in universities by enlisting volunteers and reveals key components of this mechanism. It can be labour markets of young people; requirements of business entities to personnel competences; the process of employment and career in universities; basic goals, objectives and principles of setting-up and developing such centers; analysis of advantages and drawbacks of their work, building and developing the administration system; use of volunteers’ work; academic and methodological tools; organizational and economic features and trends in center development; appraisal of such centers work and development; programs of development. All these mechanisms of adaptation support of work and development of employment and career centers in universities were studied and analyzed in view of volunteers’ role in these centers’ work. It gives an opportunity to provide comparable development of volunteer movement and net apprenticeship, to use different methods of interaction with labour market participants depending of factors of surroundings impact and to meet social request on specialists of certain professions with regard to goals of state policy of population employment.

ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ПРАКТИКИ КАК ФАКТОР КОНСОЛИДАЦИИ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО ПРОСТРАНСТВА

Objective of the study is to consider the existing innovative institutional practices that contribute to the development of regions in the context of consolidation processes. The methodological basis of the research. Based on the spatial approach, the region is considered from the point of view of a space with different resource potential, which can be directed, with the right interaction of social communities, to a successful trajectory of the region’s development. Using the resource approach, it is possible to show the process of consolidation of the regional space, which will allow filling the regional space with new meanings, as well as bringing the region to a new, higher level of development. Innovative, institutional approaches and the theory of social practices make it possible to analyze the currently existing set of actions of social institutions aimed at consolidating the regional space. Research results. Within the framework of the article, the regional space is considered, presented as a space whose structure includes elements that are interconnected with each other and form a semantic space that determines how various processes can proceed within the framework of spatial and temporal localization. One of the important processes in the region is the consolidation of the regional space, which contributes to the innovative development of the region. It is innovative regional practices that act as a factor in this consolidation.  Prospects of the study. It seems most relevant and significant at present to turn to the reflection not only of the innovative institutional practices realized and implemented in the region, aimed at rallying the regional community around the acute social problems facing it, but also those management mechanisms that will help the most successful implementation of innovative institutional practices. Examples of such practices are: the work of volunteer movements, the Immortal Regiment movement, the creation of scientific and educational centers, the development of civic initiatives.

The Position of Medical Students on Volunteering: Online Survey Results

Introduction: The youth volunteer movement is becoming one of the available ways of reducing the spread of COVID-19 and providing practical support to healthcare workers. The main activities of volunteers include participation in the work of healthcare institutions, medical support for mass events, assistance to charitable organizations, health and blood donation promotion, and first aid training. Volunteering develops competent qualities in future graduates, educates them in an active citizenship, reduces medical staff outflow, and increases safety of health care. Objective: To establish the attitude of medical university students towards volunteering Materials and methods: In autumn 2021, we conducted an anonymous online survey of 202 medical university students aged 17–25 years using a specially developed questionnaire created on Google Forms based on the Holmes and Rahe Life Stress Inventory (Social Readjustment Rating Scale, SRRS) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) validated by Tarabrina (2001) on a Russian sample. The answers were then analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 statistical software with the calculation of relative values (extensive and intensive indicators) and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: We established the attitude of young people towards volunteering and specified its attractive aspects for students, the reasons for refusing to volunteer, and perceived personal qualities of an ideal volunteer. We also confirmed the hypothesis that volunteering has a direct impact on anxiety and stress resistance of students. Our findings will contribute to determining further directions for expanding the volunteer movement and involving future healthcare professionals. Conclusion: The attractiveness of the volunteer movement for students is mainly due to pragmatic motives. To create a personnel reserve of employees with a practical understanding of professional activity, it is necessary to develop targeted forms of support for student volunteers.

Green-in-green biohybrids as transient biotriboelectric nanogenerators

Green self-powered devices based on biodegradable materials have attracted widespread attention. Here, we propose the construction of the transient biotriboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) using green-in-green bionanocompoites. The green-in-green nanocomposites, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), are prepared with a high-pressure molding method. The CNC promotes the degradation and enhances the dielectric constant of CNC/PHB. It further allows for the significant improvement of the triboelectric output of CNC/PHB-based TENG. The voltage output and current output of CNC/PHB-based TENG are 5.7 and 12.5 times higher than those of pristine PHB-based TENG, respectively. Also, the bio-TENG exhibits admirable signal stability in over 20000 cycles. Despite the high hardness of CNC/PHB, a soft but simple-structured arch sensor is successfully assembled using CNC/PHB-based TENG. It can attain the precise real-time monitoring of various human motions. This study may provide new insights into the design/fabrication of green functional materials, and initiate the next wave of innovations in eco-friendly self-powered devices.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ВОЛОНТЕРСТВА НА СОЦИАЛЬНУЮ АКТИВНОСТЬ ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ В РОССИЙСКИХ ВУЗАХ

The authors of the work note that the changing social reality contributes to the fact that modern young people become one of the interested participants in the ongoing social processes and events. The social activity of young people is particularly recorded during the period of their education, since the capabilities of Russian universities allow young people to actively express themselves in various fields: educational, scientific, social, sports, cultural and mass. The authors point out that the participation of students in volunteer movements affects the overall level of social activity. Participation in volunteer activities allows young people to accumulate various general cultural and professional competencies, expand social ties, interact with a group of like-minded people, self-actualize and show creativity.

Destruction, Preservation, and Rethinking of Ukraine’s Urban Cultural Heritage during the Russo-Ukrainian War

The article explores a range of problems relating to the destruction, preservation, and rethinking of Ukraine’s urban cultural heritage in the course of the ongoing Russian invasion. The author stresses that today protection of heritage remains an important aspect of Ukraine’s cultural policy. Since 2014, Russian military aggression has caused significant destruction in Ukrainian cities. The criminal actions of the Russian troops in Ukraine exhibit characteristics of urbicide, as they are aimed at destroying heterogeneous cultural and symbolic urban space and the diversity of the urban cultural heritage. According to experts, as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the cultural heritage and cultural infrastructure of Ukraine will have suffered the heaviest destruction and damage since the Second World War. The article notes that under these conditions, new strategies for the protection of cultural heritage are being developed in Ukraine. Various public initiatives, the volunteer movement, and assistance from international organizations all play important roles. In general, Ukraine needs long-term support in the area of cultural heritage protection. Given the diversity and multifaceted nature of the country’s cultural heritage, we need to employ a variety of approaches and technologies to preserve it effectively. In particular, digital technologies, including the digitization of artifacts, should improve the record-keeping in this sphere and help keep track of the country’s cultural heritage. The author argues that the Russian aggression has led to a “turn” of sorts in the understanding of, and attitude towards, cultural heritage in Ukraine. The search for and revival of traditional components of national culture, as well as critical rethinking of the Russian imperial and Soviet heritage, are gaining more public prominence. In connection with this, the article touches on the new wave of toponymic changes in Ukrainian cities provoked by the full-scale Russian invasion, as well as on such developments as the dismantling of a certain category of urban monuments, reformatting of museum exhibits, etc.

SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL FOR VOLUNTEERING

The article highlights the key socio-psychological factors of formation of healthcare personnel readiness for volunteering. The following features are emphasized on among the basic attributes of volunteering: altruistic, creative, innovative nature of activity implemented in conditions of uncertainty, volatility, various subjective and objective contradictions; diverse activities at various levels of management hierarchy; the explicit prognostic nature of the tasks to be performed; the defining role of the communicative function and the ability to work as part of a team; permanent psychological tension related to considerable responsibility for the decisions made. In this article the readiness is considered from the competence approach perspective. The personal competencies i.e., motivational (individual pursuit of self-actualization, focus on self-realization, the desire to meet the demands of society, orientation to success); intellectual (cognitive and metacognitive); communicative (general speech competence, dialogic competence, interactive competence, narrative competence); personal (self-determination, autonomy, responsibility, independence, managerial qualities, etc.) are the fundamental structural and substantive components of the socio-psychological readiness of healthcare personnel for volunteering. A diagnostic procedure was developed and the socio-psychological readiness for volunteering of healthcare personnel and healthcare system managers, who have certain experience of participating in the volunteer movement, was empirically investigated.

Львівський університет у перші місяці російсько-української повномасштабної війни 2022 р. (за матеріалами прес-центру Університету)

Visnyk of the Lviv University. Historical Series OPEN JOURNAL SYSTEMS Journal Help USER Username Password Remember me NOTIFICATIONS View Subscribe LANGUAGE English Українська JOURNAL CONTENT Search Search Scope All Browse By Issue By Author By Title Other Journals FONT SIZE INFORMATION For Readers For Authors For Librarians HOME ABOUT LOGIN SEARCH CURRENT ARCHIVES Home > No 54 (2022) > Kachmar LVIV UNIVERSITY IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE FULL-SCALE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR OF 2022 (ACCORDING TO THE MATERIALS OF THE PRESS CENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY) Volodymyr Kachmar, Yuliya Hrytsenko ABSTRACT The article traces the activities of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and its academic community in the first months of the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2022. The changes in the activities of the structural units of the University and the organization of the educational process during martial law are revealed. Special attention is focused on Lviv University activities aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the situation in Ukraine (preparation of appeals to the University’s partners, meetings with diplomats, dissemination of information in various languages about crimes against humanity committed by Russian aggressors, etc.). The facts of the consolidation of the academic community around the condemnation of the Russian invasion, the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and displaced persons from the temporarily occupied territories, the deployment of the volunteer movement, and the implementation of various humanitarian initiatives are separately analyzed.