The Baby Boomer generation in the United States is growing older, and the number of adults age 65 years or older is expected to double by 2050. The increase in older adults combined with the reduction in services to older adults has created a gap in available social services and volunteers are needed to fill those gaps. This quantitative, nonexperimental study was designed to identify the motivations of volunteers who served the socialization needs of isolated older adults in a rural U.S. community. The functional approach theory was utilized to explain how volunteers engage in the same volunteer activity for different reasons. The Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) was used to gather data on the motivations of Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly (LBFOTE) volunteers as well as demographic data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, ANOVAs, and ANCOVAs to determine the relationships between the 6 functions of the VFI and demographic variables. The majority of volunteers of LBFOTE in this study were White married women with a college degree who were over 56 years of age, retired, and had volunteered for greater than 1 year. This demographic showed that the LBFOTE volunteer base is aging; 70% of volunteers were age 56 and older and 92.6% of volunteers had served for more than one year, indicating that the LBFOTE retains volunteers. Participants identified humanitarian and altruistic reasons as their motivation to volunteer, giving these the highest scores on VFI Values function. The findings promote positive social change by providing information to inform recruiting and retaining volunteers by targeting motives and untapped demographics, contributing to a culture of serving the socialization needs of isolated older adults.

The subject of the project will be a short video on my summer volunteer experience at the first non-profit charity college called Guizhou Forerunner College (GFC) in a rural village in China. GFC is located in the rural village called Huishui in Guizhou Province in southern part of China. It is the first non-profit funded college in China, Guizhou Forerunner College aims to support the underserved low income, blind, and minority communities in the Guizhou Province of China by providing education through innovative teaching. The school started its launching process in 2007 and had its first class of 360 students in the fall of 2009. Professors are all volunteers coming from all over the world. There are 38 in total right now and most of them are from U.S. As a participant involved with GFC’s life for two months, the project would be made through my perspectives on showing not only GFC, in a larger content, to show the characteristics of GFC with comparison to education in poverty areas in Southern China. Besides the techniques learnt from editing courses, the theories and histories of cinema verite and documentary genre will be applied and being the inspiration for the project

This research examines the use of volunteering at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for the creation of human, social and political capital at individual, organisational and societal levels. Despite a long tradition of Olympic volunteering, this has not been investigated so far. The concept of volunteerism at Beijing 2008, in fact, was constructed upon multiple contexts including the Olympic Movement, Chinese society and an international understanding of the ternl (BOCOG, 2005). Hence, volunteerism as an under-investigated concept is firstly studied individually in each of these contexts. The frameworks underpinning this research include Getz's (2005) human resource planning process which explains how specific policies for managing event volunteers are formulated for fulfilling its vision(s); and theories of social, human and political capital as developed by Putnam (2000), Bourdieu (1986; 1991) and Coleman (1988) respectively. Multiple qualitative case study strategy is adopted for this investigation, following a constructivist paradigm. The subjective and interactive epistemology is constructed upon the knowledge and experiences of a total of fifty-seven infoIDlants, most of whom were directly involved in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Volunteer Programme. The research findings illustrate that the Chinese state and BOCOG's interpretation of the concept of volunteerisrn was manifested in organisational visions for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Volunteer Programme. These visions were accomplished through a range of management policies, which in fact placed volunteerism at Beijing 2008 in line with the maturity stage of volunteerism in the Olympic Movement. During the course of the management practices, social, human and political capital were created in varying degrees at all of the three levels. It was also evident that participation and training were the critical processes in the creation of different forms of capital. Moreover, the findings suggest that the created social, human and political capital have both positive and negative effects on those involved, while full possible long-term effects are yet to become apparent. This research makes distinctive contributions to the body of knowledge. It adds six-dimensional conceptual frameworks for both volunteerism in general and Olympic volunteerism in specific. Investigation into how volunteering for the Beijing Games has been used for the creation of social, human and political capital at individual, organisational and societal levels is deemed to be original. Research findings will contribute to the development of volunteerism in the Olympic Movement and future Olympic volunteer programmes. Suggestions for future research are also proposed to investigate on further issues of issue of the use of volunteering for the creation of social, human and political capital at future Olympic Games as well as other mega events.

This research investigates volunteer tourists’ motivations and on-site experiences, alongside hosts’ attitudes towards volunteer tourists at the Home and Life orphanage in Phang Nga province, Thailand. An interpretive paradigm utilising qualitative data collection methods (semi-structured interviews, a focus group, participant observation and diaries) was adopted. The informants included twenty-four volunteer tourists, on a working vacation at the Home and Life orphanage between 1stJuly and 30th September 2011, and twenty hosts from Thai Muang subdistrict. The findings of the research suggest that the volunteer tourists’ motivations and on-site experiences are multidimensional. Five main themes of motivations have been identified: (i) to help the children who were affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami; (ii) to gain personal development and growth; (iii) to gain new experiences; (iv) to learn about/be immersed in local culture; and (v) to meet and make friends. Amongst these, a desire to help the children was the most dominant motivational factor, which was strongly influenced the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. In terms of the volunteer tourists’ on-site experiences, four experiential dimensions were found: (i) personal development and growth; (ii) social; (iii) cultural; and (iv) feeling. The study suggests that the children had played a significant role in making the volunteer tourists’ experience a beneficial one because they were an important source for cultural learning and their lives had taught a number of things to the volunteer tourists. This research also investigates hosts’ attitudes towards the volunteer tourists. It was found that they had very positive attitudes towards the volunteer tourists, based upon two main factors: the volunteer tourists’ conduct and performance; and the perceived benefits they gained from the work of these tourists. The opportunity for the children to study English with English native speakers was cited as the most significant benefit. However, the hosts also had concerns about some aspects of the volunteer tourists’ behaviour and perceived underperformance, which were found to be mainly the result of cultural differences. Additionally, interactions and relationships between volunteer tourists and hosts were also examined by using social exchange theory. The study suggests that the interactions were reciprocal, and that both the volunteer tourists and the hosts enjoyed satisfactory benefits from one another: the volunteer tourist had a desired experience, and the hosts gained benefits from the work of the volunteer tourists.

Probleminis (tiriamasis) klausimas: Kokie vadybiniai aspektai skatina žmones vykti į piligrimines keliones (Taize) ir užsiimti religine savanoryste (Taize)? Tyrimo objektas: Vadybiniai ir komunikaciniai piligriminių kelionių organizavimo aspektai. Tyrimo tikslas: nustatyti savanorystės ir piligrimystės sąsajas, analizuojant Taizė sukauptą patirtį. Uždaviniai: 1) Aptarti piligrimystės raidą pasaulyje ir Lietuvoje; 2) Ištirti patraukliausius religinės praktikos aspektus Taizė savanoriams; 3) Ištirti patraukliausius savanoriškos praktikos aspektus Taizė savanoriams; 4) Išnagrinėti vadybinius ir komunikacinius kelionės į Taizė aspektus; Rezultatai:. Tyrimo metu buvo nustatyta, kad žmones įsitraukti į religinę veiklą daugiausiai paskatina draugai - 33,7 proc. (n=31) respondentų. Taize vykusios pamaldos vertinamos labai gerai - 56,5 proc. (n=52) respondentų, stebimas didelis aktyvumas pamaldų lankyme: 37 proc. (n=34) pamaldose dalyvaudavo daugiausia du kartus, 34,8 proc. (n=32) - tris kartus, 26,1 proc. (n=24) - vieną kartą. Po kelionės į Taize 52,2 proc. (n=48) respondentų atsakė, kad jų religinės pažiūros sustiprėjo. Daugiausiai respondentų 62 proc. (n=57) vyksta į Taize savanoriauti, nes įdomu pabandyti. 48,9 proc. (n=45) respondentų savanoriavimą pačiame Taize viduje vertina labai gerai ir 38 proc. (n=35) – gerai. 63 proc. (n=58) respondentų pirmoje vietoje kaip savanoriavimo tipą renkasi maisto dalinimą. 66,3 proc. ( n=61 ) respondentų sužinojo apie Taize iš draugų. 35,9 proc... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Problematic question: what are the management aspects of encouraging people to go on pilgrimages (Taize), and involve people in religious volunteering (Taize)? Object: Communications and managements aspects volunteered in Taize religious activities. Objective of the study: to identify links between volunteering and pilgrimage, Taize experience analysis. Tasks: 1) to discuss the development of the pilgrimage in the world and in Lithuania; 2) to examine the most attractive aspects of the religious practice for Taize volunteers; 3) to examine the most attractive aspects of the volunteering practice for Taize volunteers; 4) to analyse the management and communicative aspects of Taize pilgrimage; Results: It was found that mostly 33.7 per cent (n = 31) of respondents get involved in religious activities by leading their friends. Taize worship service was evaluated very well by 56.5 per cent. (n = 52) of respondents. Moreover we observed relatively big activity in the worship attendance: 37 per cent (n = 34) of respondents participated in worship in a maximum of two times, 34.8 per cent. (n = 32) - three times, 26.1 per cent. (n = 24) - one time. 52.2 per cent. (n = 48) of respondents after Taize pilgrimage said that their religious attitudes strengthened. 62 per cent. (n = 57) of the respondents noted that volunteering in Taize is in their field of interest („it is interesting to try“). 48.9 per cent. (n = 45) of respondents evaluated volunteering in Taize as very good and 38 per... [to full text]

Savanoriškos veiklos situacija Lietuvos saugomose teritorijose pagrindžiama ir teoriškai, ir praktiškai. Pasiektas darbo ir tyrimo tikslas, patvirtintos darbe keliamos hipotezės, išsiaiškinama kiek direkcijų yra susidūrusios su savanoriška veikla, kokios priežastys to, jog direkcijoje nebuvo ar nėra vykdoma savanoriška veikla, taip pat sužinome, ar direkcijos suinteresuotos priimti savanorius, kiek jų yra priėmę, iš kokių šalių, kokio amžiaus ir lyties, kokius darbus atlieka savanoriai ir kaip šiuos darbus vertina pačios direkcijos. Labai svarbu, jog atskleidžiamos šios veiklos problemos ir aiškūs šių problemų sprendimo ir savanoriškos veiklos proceso gerinimo būdai, taip pat aiškinamasi kokia yra savanorių motyvacija pasirenkant ir atliekant darbus, atskleidžiama savanorystės svarba ir būtinumas. / A situation of volunteering in the protected areas of Lithuania is based in both theory and practice. The result of the paper and research was achieved; a hypothesis of the paper was confirmed. The paper analyzed how many directorates are familiar with volunteering, what are the reasons for having or not having volunteers; also, it reveals whether directorates are interested in accepting volunteers, how many volunteers there are, from which countries, their age range and gender, which works are carried out by volunteers, and which works are carried out by the directorate. It is important that the paper reveals problems and clear solutions for these problems, as well as steps for improving the volunteering process, and also it analyzes whether volunteers have motivation to choose and carry out works, reveals the importance and necessity of volunteering.

Nagrinėjama socialinės ekonomikos samprata, esmė socioedukaciniame kontekste, pristatoma mokslinė darbo prielaida: socialinės ekonomikos raida turi įtakos saugesnei edukacinei plėtrai ir spartesnei socialinei sanglaudai. Siekiant patvirtinti arba paneigti moklinę darbo prielaidą iškeliami šie darbo uždaviniai: o atlikti teorinės literatūros apie socialinės ekonomikos fenomeno sampratą analizę; o išnagrinėti socialinės ekonomikos raidos etapus Kanadoje ir kitose Amerikos valstybėse; o pateikti socialinės ekonomikos svarbos aspektus Europos žemyne, atlikti 5 šalių – Airijos, Belgijos, Lenkijos, Prancūzijos ir Suomijos – socialinės ekonomikos raidos atvejų analizę; o išnagrinėti įmonių socialinės atsakomybės sampratos plėtros tendencijas Lietuvoje ir vietą socialinės ekonomikos kontekste; o išnagrinėti socialinės atsakomybės visuomenėje svarbą; o atlikti socialinių įmonių ir koncesijos atvejų analizę; o išnagrinėti viešojo ir privataus sektorių partnerystės plėtros tendencijas. Darbe naudoti tyrimo metodai yra literatūros ir kitų informacijos šaltinių analizė, palyginimas ir sintezė; atliekant empirinį tyrimą naudojama dokumentų analizė, ekspertų struktūrizuota-kryptinga apklausa, interviu (socialinės įmonės ir koncesijos atvejų analizei); rezultatų pateikimui naudojama duomenų statistinė, lyginamoji ir turinio analizė. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad pagrindinė darbo prielaida: socialinės ekonomikos raida daro įtaką saugesnei edukacinei plėtrai ir spartesnei socialinei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study is to analyze the phenomenon of Social economy in educational context. Scientific study assumption introduced: development of social economy has an impact on safe educational development and more rapid social cohesion. In order to estimate the assumption introduced there were raised seven tasks: 1) to make a theoretical literature analysis on the concept of socio-economic; 2) to explore the socio-economic development in Canada and in other States of America; 3) to explore the importance of socio-economic aspects in the European continent and describe socio-economic development of five European countries - Belgium, Poland, France and Finland; 4) to explore the concept of corporate social responsibility and its‘ role in the context of social economy; 5) to examine the importance of social responsibility in society; 6) to describe and give examples of a social enterprise and concession; 7) to explore the environment of public-private partnership development. Research methods chosen for this study are analysis of documents, to in deep analyze the concept of social economy and its’ role in the countries, and structured and non structured experts’ interviews to explore the mechanism and impact of social economy on socioeducational environment. The analysis of the results led to the conclusion that main scientific assumption: development of social economy has an impact on safe educational development and more rapid social cohesion – is confirmed. It was... [to full text]

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to elaborate decision-making in corporate volunteering by investigating the motives for implementing corporate volunteering programs (CVPs), the design and scope of the initiatives and the processes companies use to conduct corporate volunteering. Additionally, we would like to find out if the motives for implementing CVPs differ from the ones of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in general as reasons must exist why companies rely on this often costly tool. Research design: In our qualitative study we deploy semi-structured interviews to collect data from nine different medium- and large-sized international companies. We prepared a list of themes used to conduct and guide the interviews. The content analysis is utilized to interpret and categorize the data obtained. Findings: Firms introduce CVP for translating their CSR vision into action and for creating a win-win situation. They aim at improving the sustainability performance and the staff’s performance e.g. their skills, motivation and commitment to advance the retention of employees. Furthermore, personal reasons of decision-makers to conduct corporate volunteering initiatives exist. By investigating the motives of applying CVPs, we found out that they can differ from the ones of introducing CSR activity in general as they are more of a proactive nature and more related to employees and the society in general than to all stakeholders. Originality: We contribute to the existing literature about CSR and corporate volunteering by investigating decision-making in CVPs and by the development of a process model. Furthermore, we examine the reasons of applying CVPs to detect the value companies attribute to it. Lastly, we come up with a classification of CVPs which has not been done by other researchers yet.

Darbe analizuojamos savanorystės kaip moksleivių lyderystės raiškos galimybės. Nagrinėjami savanorių - lyderių veiklos nevyriausybinėje „Jaunųjų ugniagesių“(LJUS) organizacijoje klausimai, siejant juos su savanorystės peraugimu į jaunojo lyderio vaidmenį skatinimo galimybėmis. Remiantis atliktais tyrimais, pateikiami moksleivių - savanorių pagrindiniai motyvai darbui su vaikais,jaunimu. Yra išskiriami efektyviausi būdai, įtakojantys savanorystės ir lyderystės raišką. Remiantis tyrimo išvadomis, pažymima, kad veiksmingiausios yra ne materialinės skatinimo formos, o tos, kurios skatina savanorio asmeninį tobulėjimą, įtakoja jauno žmogaus ateities profesinius planus. / The volunteering as the expression of students’ leadership and its singularities (the case of the Young fire-fighter) has been chosen as the subject of the research considering to the relevance of the problem and in pursuance to research it. Students of 5-10th classes participated in the survey. The activities of the Young fire-fighters league of Lithuania were emphasized as the main examples of the youth volunteering and leadership. The main aim of the research is to show singularities of the volunteering as the expression of students’ leadership in pursuance of the project activities in the non-governmental organization - the Young fire-fighters league of Lithuania.

Darbe atlikta teorinė ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogų ir tėvų bendradarbiavimo galimybių apžvalga. Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas kurio tikslas - atskleisti tėvų savanorystės organizavimo galimybes ikimokyklinėje įstaigoje. Uždaviniai: 1. Išryškinti pedagoginio bendradarbiavimo organizavimo galimybes. 2. Atskleisti savanoriškos veiklos ypatumus. 3. Atskleisti tėvų savanorystės galimybes ikimokyklinėje įstaigoje. Tyrime dalyvavo 18 pedagogų ir 148 ikimokyklinę įstaigą lankančių vaikų tėvai. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjama ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogų ir tėvų bendradarbiavimo situacija. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Pedagoginio bendradarbiavimo kaip sistemos pagrindas santykiai. Pedagoginio bendradarbiavimo sistema apima ir kitas ugdymo procesui mokykloje įtakos turinčias sąveikas: mokinio ir mokinių bendruomenės, mokinio šeimos ir klasės bei mokyklos tėvų bendruomenės, taip pat pačių pedagogų bendruomenės: mokytojų tarpusavyje ir mokytojų – mokyklos administracijos. 2. Savanoriška veikla yra pelno nesiekianti, be piniginio atlygio ir neprofesinė veikla, kurios sąlygos nustatomos savanorio ir šios veiklos organizatoriaus susitarimu. Tėvų dalyvavimas mokyklos veikloje teikia naudą tėvams, mokykloms, vaikams ir bendruomenei. Tėvų savanoriavimas gali būti suskirstytas į metodinę, ūkinę, socialinę ir kūrybinę sritį. 3. Tyrimo duomenys atskleidė, kad ugdytinių tėvai savanoriauti galėtų visose keturiose veiklos srityse; metodinėje, ūkinėje... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In this work an academic survey on possibilities of collaboration between preschool educators and parents was carried out. Using a questionnaire we tried to analyse the possibility for parents to organize volunteering activities in a preschool facility. Tasks: 1. To highlight the possibilities of pedagogical collaboration organizing. 2. To educe the characteristics of volunteering. 3. To find out the possibility for parents to volunteer at preschool facilities. 18 preschool educators and 148 parents of children attending a preschool facility took part in this survey. In the empirical part of this survey the situation of collaboration between parents and preschool educators was discussed. The most important conclusions of this survey are these: 1. The foundation of pedagogical collaboration system is relationships. This system is as well based on the relationship between one scholar and the rest of the class, between scholar’s family and other parents of the class and school, also the relationships between educators themselves, and between educators and school’s administration. 2. Volunteering is a non-profitable, unprofessional activity without any payment, and conditions are based upon the agreement between a volunteer and the organiser of such activity. Parents’ participation in school’s activities provides benefits for the parents themselves, for schools, children and school’s community as well. Parents can volunteer in these sections: methodical, economic, social and... [to full text]