This qualitative research study explores how a group of 27 British undergraduate students make meaning of their experiences as they prepare for, participate in, and reflect upon a short-term international volunteer excursion in Kenya. Through a thematic analysis of verbal and visual text (semi-structured interviews, field notes and photographic content posted to Facebook), I seek to understand the narrative claims young people come to make about this unique life episode. In particular, I examine how study participants take-up and employ notions of ‘authenticity’ within their personal travel narratives, and on what bases they claim to have encountered the ‘real Kenya.’ Here, I document the specific criteria participants drew upon to assert the value and legitimacy of their experience, including the remoteness of their destination, their engagement in ‘everyday’ Kenyan life, and their intimate interactions with local people. Next, I explore participants' attempts to differentiate themselves from 'other' volunteers - a grouping they referred to broadly (and derogatorily) as 'voluntourists.' Here, I detail the extent to which the critiques associated with international volunteering have become adopted into mainstream discourse, thereby helping to shape which identities (and particular labels) young travellers embrace and contest. Finally, I analyse the ways participants navigate difficult representational choices when communicating their international volunteer experiences to a public audience via social media. Revealing these practices is key to understanding young people’s impression management strategies and the types of ‘performances’ in which they may be invested. Overall, this thesis is positioned as a sociological inquiry, theoretically informed by the dramaturgical perspective of Erving Goffman and the field of whiteness studies. I further situate findings within the context of late or liquid modernity.

Much of our current research about volunteering in later life has been conducted with respondents who dedicate their time and effort to volunteer in their home communities. Some, however, choose to travel to developing countries to volunteer in a number of initiatives. Little research has been done that focuses on what influences their desire and motivation to volunteer in this particular context, what meaning is derived from it, and how it impacts their perception of wellbeing and health in later years. Using an interpretative phenomenological methodology, this project attempted to discover how older Canadians experienced the phenomenon of volunteering in developing countries, asking the questions: What are the factors that lead some older people to choose to travel to volunteer in a developing country at this particular time in their lives? What were the circumstances in their lives that enabled them to be able to make this choice? What meaning did/do they derive from it? In what ways did this experience impact their perceived life satisfaction, health and well-being? The data gathering strategy involved collecting information directly from those who have participated in this phenomenon: interviews with 12 participants, ranging from age 62 to 80, were conducted. In order to understand the context of this experience, the research design also involved gathering demographic data about the participants’ life situations. Interview data gathered from the study were initially analyzed using coding techniques of the constant comparative method. The interpretative phenomenological analysis led to the discovery of core categories in the data, which were then clustered into a conceptual framework. A wealth of concept-rich data emerged to form four key properties that contribute significantly to further understanding about this phenomenon: a significant, disruptive event had occurred in their lives, at a time preceding their volunteer experience; the conviction of being led or guided into pursuing this choice; the discovery of feeling instantly welcomed into a place of belonging, where each felt instantly at home and connected in meaningful ways; and an experience of marginalization, isolation and loss of meaning upon their return home, necessitating a need to ‘re-balance’ their lives and find ways to continue to find meaning. This research study will inform the discourses about elder health and wellbeing, and volunteering in later life, particularly about the social movement of elder volunteering in developing countries. It will contribute to theories of how, and in what ways, older adults achieve meaning and purpose by positively negotiating life transitions, re-inventing themselves, learning and adopting new roles, and creating new behaviours and identities, all of which can contribute to healthy aging in later life. / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to explore how volunteers engaged in natural-area based projects develop attachments to the resource and act as stewards for these resources. The context of this study was the National Park Service's All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) project. This project recruits citizen scientist volunteers to go out into the field with scientists to help collect and catalogue species in the park in an attempt to generate an all inclusive species inventory. Using data collected during indepth interviews and notes taken from participant observations, this study found ATBI participants' motivations to volunteer in the project were multifaceted and included (a) an attachment to the park, (b) an attachment to specific species, (c) the social bonds to other volunteers, (d) the bioblitz experience itself, (e) and/or the opportunity to learn about the natural environment. Analysis of the data also found volunteer informants had personal, well defined meanings attached to the resource prior to the inception of the ATBI project. Through participation in the ATBI project, however, the resource was experienced in a new way, with new meanings emerging while other established meanings were refined. It was found that these established, emerging, and refined meanings formed the foundation of the informants' attachments to the ATBI resource(s), which in turn became the basis for their stewardship of their respective parks, as well as feelings of stewardship for natural areas beyond park boundaries.

The goals of this study are to examine why seniors volunteer and how where they volunteer affects their everyday lives. A group of volunteers from a seniors association in southeastern Ontario are used to investigate how seniors become volunteers, why individuals continue to volunteer at a particular place, what tasks senior volunteers perform, and the number of years and hours seniors volunteer at a particular organization. The study makes use of 23 interviews with volunteers aged 54 to 89. The findings from the interviews were then compared to national data on senior volunteers gathered from the 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating (CSGVP). The secondary data were used to examine such things as, the tasks senior volunteers perform and the reasons seniors volunteer across Canada. The analysis reveals that the group of volunteers show several similarities to volunteers aged 55 and over across Canada. The interviews show that the specific characteristics of the place influence why seniors volunteer and continue to volunteer at this particular organization. In addition to the characteristics of the place, the interviews disclose the potential to view the seniors centre as a therapeutic landscape, where healing, well-being and maintained health are enhanced. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-28 19:13:42.693

The purpose of this study was to explore and to examine the relationship among Mississippi Master Gardeners’ characteristics, motives for volunteering as a Master Gardener, satisfaction serving as a Master Gardener, organizational commitment, and intention to leave the Mississippi Master Gardener Program. Specifically, this research sought to determine what drives or motivates Mississippi Master Gardener volunteers to volunteer, what satisfies them, and what makes these volunteers consider leaving the Mississippi State University Extension Master Gardener programs. This study used a descriptive survey research design to examine the relationship between the variables. Sixty-one items encompassed the five-part survey which was completed by volunteers. Part 1, volunteer characteristics, included 11 items. Part 2 motives for volunteering, included 30 items. Part 3, satisfaction, included three items. Part 4, organizational commitment, had 15 items. Finally, Part 5, intention to leave, consisted of three items. The sample size of this study was 600 Master Gardener volunteers from 44 of the 52 counties listed as active on the Mississippi State University Extension website at the time the study was conducted. These counties were selected using cluster random sampling. Electronic and paper surveys were used, with electronic surveys being completed by most respondents. Organizational commitment and satisfaction were the greatest predictors of intention to leave the Mississippi Master Gardener program. If volunteers are not satisfied with their positions or feel a strong commitment to the organization, there is a high probability of their leaving the organization, no matter how strong their commitment is to the organization or what motivates them to volunteer. Salas (2008) also found satisfaction to be a key predictor with intention to leave. These research efforts strive to increase the understanding of why Master Gardeners volunteer, with the hope that this knowledge will aid in strengthening the program in the future. Findings could improve organizational practices, volunteer training procedures or frequency of surveys to assess volunteer satisfaction or intention to leave or organizational products, publications or educational materials that support the Mississippi Master Gardener program.

The purpose of this study was to describe the current Master Gardener and County Director perceptions of the Mississippi Master Gardener program. Participation for both groups was voluntary and the Master Gardeners were chosen through random sampling. In the final sample, a total of 43 County Directors and 233 Master Gardeners completed the survey. The dependent variable was motivation functions: Understanding, Values, Enhancement, Protect, Social, and Career. The independent variable was group, which included Master Gardeners and County Directors. Results showed that Master Gardener’s highest ranked reasons for volunteering were related to the Understanding, Values, and Enhancement functions. They volunteered to learn more about horticulture and to help others. Data also showed that volunteers were very satisfied with their overall Master Gardener experience. Eleven of the twelve questions ranked above 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 7. Master Gardener’s highest ranked perceptions of the benefits of the program were also related to the Understanding, Values, and Enhancement functions. County Director’s highest ranked perceptions of benefits of the program were related to the Understanding, Values, and Social functions.

The impact of environmental influences on depression has been well established by research. In particular, it is known that receiving/perceiving adequate social support has a protective influence on depression. Less is known about the protective benefits of providing support to others, namely in the form of altruistic, empathetic, or prosocial behavior. While research has shown that having altruistic attitudes and engaging in altruistic behaviors has a positive impact on physical health and mental well-being, studies on the association between altruistic attitudes and/or behavior and depression are limited. The present study examined the relationship between altruism and depression, and hypotheses were tested that allow for explanation of why altruism may protect against depression. A sample of 303 participants was recruited from the University of North Texas and the surrounding community. Participants completed an online survey that examined their altruistic activities, details regarding these activities, their prosocial attitudes, and their current level of depression. Results did not support that level of involvement in altruistic activities is directly related to depression severity. However, outcomes from involvement in altruistic activities, including sense of overburden from participating in altruistic activities, level of social interaction with other helpers and those helped during altruistic activities, and sense of life satisfaction and purpose gained from participating in altruistic activities, were significantly related to depression severity. These results suggest that participating in altruistic activities that are not perceived as overburdening may lead to outcomes that could positively impact depression. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Volunteering is a vital and integral part of UK independent hospices. Volunteers were the founders of many, if not all, UK hospices. Today, hospices are still heavily dependent on volunteers to raise funds and undertake a wide range of roles which help to support the patients and their families. Trustees, who are seen very differently to volunteers, also work in a voluntary capacity on hospice Boards. In this role they are responsible for the governance of hospices, carrying significant legal responsibility and setting the strategic direction. Yet volunteering is often overlooked at a strategic level and there are barriers to involvement in key areas, such as care. The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between volunteering and the future sustainability of UK independent hospices. This was carried out by developing and testing a theoretical model of organisational sustainability in adult and children’s hospices to explore how volunteering is understood by UK independent hospice senior staff, volunteers and trustees; to consider the influence of volunteers on four key organisational sustainability factors: governance; service delivery; hospice economy; and community engagement and explore whether there is a link between volunteering and hospice sustainability. As this study had a strategic focus, the views of senior staff, trustees and volunteers were sought. Findings suggest that there is little understanding of the role of volunteers in governance, that there is a lack of planning for volunteer involvement and that volunteering has a strong influence on the sustainability of independent hospices. This is the first study of its kind and makes an original contribution to knowledge by producing evidence to demonstrate the relationship between hospice sustainability and volunteering. It has the potential to influence and develop thinking about volunteering in UK independent hospices

Volunteerism is a popular form of community engagement among youth and can involve helping organizations, such as nonprofits, as well as directly assisting neighbours or friends through informal types of helping. A large body of research has examined the different ways in which economic, social, and cultural resources impact on volunteerism. Fewer studies have considered the influence of place characteristics. This dissertation comprises three studies. The first study used secondary data to explore the moderating effects of urban/rural place of residence and certain resources (e.g., religiosity, work status) on youths’ volunteer propensity and intensity. Results revealed significant urban/rural interactions. For example, belonging to youth groups (versus not) was particularly a strong lever for rural youth volunteerism, while higher religious attendance frequency was associated with greater volunteer intensities for urban youth. The second study used a mixed methods approach to investigate urban/rural differences in motivations for and barriers to volunteering, and skills acquired. Financial costs were associated with nonvolunteer status for rural youth, while urban nonvolunteers reported lacking interest. During the interviews, youth described reasons for volunteering, challenges to volunteering, and strategies to improve volunteerism. These discussions differed by urban/rural residence. Rural youth reported more contextual barriers, whereas urban youth questioned the significance of their impact. Rural youth discussed volunteering more as a general learning experience, whereas urban youth tended to mention specific skills they acquired (e.g., technical, interpersonal). In the third study, the relationships between perceptions of the neighbourhood environment (e.g., cohesion, amenities) and volunteer outcomes were explored. Results revealed that neighbourhood cohesion was particularly important to informal volunteering. Further, different clusters emerged based on volunteer type (informal/formal) and level of intensity. The findings from this dissertation suggest that understanding youth volunteerism within a socio-ecological perspective can widen our understanding of the volunteer process, including antecedents, challenges, experiences, and outcomes. This research may have practical implications for nonprofit organizations. For example, methods of outreach should consider how the environment impacts on volunteerism when trying to recruit young volunteers. Finally, the literature on youth volunteerism may benefit by adopting a holistic approach to volunteerism that considers the different ways in which place characteristics, rather than only individual-level factors, influence youth community engagement.

This paper examines factors affecting volunteer labor supply with two specific goals: (1) a reassessment of the model and empirical process outlined by Paul Menchik and Burton Weisbrod using a larger data set from a more recent time period; and (2) an exploration of how volunteer labor supply is affected by liability exposure of volunteers, a factor which Menchik and Weisbrod did not address.Data from a nationwide 1992 poll on volunteering conducted by the Gallup Organization and Independent Sector is applied to the quantitative approach which Menchik and Weisbrod used on data from 1977. Tobit regression analysis finds significance in some variables in the Menchik and Weisbrod model -- including variables relating to gender, offspring, education, religiosity, and parental attitudes to giving. Volunteer liability exposure has been a subject of debate in the U.S. Congress and other public policy arenas, and the Volunteer Liability Protection Act became law in 1997. The volunteer liability factor is measured in two ways -- using the variability of certain legal protections for line volunteers among state laws and using per capita tort filings per state as a "litigousness index." The "litigousness index" variable demonstrated value in predicting volunteer labor supply, which suggests that potential volunteers respond to a more generalized rather than activity-specific threat of lawsuits. Individuals' information searches probably do not go as far as to examine legal provisions affecting their specific activities. / Master of Arts