What is Volunteering?

Volunteer work is the work that is carried out:
• Without compulsion
• Uncompensated, or at a much lower level than could be received for the same work in a government or commercial organization, or with only reimbursement of expenses
• For the benefit of others

Areas of distinctive contributions

• Volunteering helps to create a cohesive and stable society
• Volunteers can also enhance the ability of government branches to communicate with people and provide services at the grassroots level, due to the close relationship volunteers can develop with their communities
• Volunteers contribute considerable economic value to development

If the potential of volunteering were realized and noticed in full force, it could bring an added value to the services that government provides and for collaborative programmes and projects.

Types of Volunteering

There are a number of different types of volunteering:
• Mutual aid or self-help: People volunteer to help others without a social group or community of which they are a part
• Philanthropy or service to others: The primary beneficiary is an external third party, not a part of a group of which the volunteer is a member
• Participation and self governance: The role played by individuals in the governance process, ranging from representation on government consultation bodies to user-involvement in local development projects
• Advocacy: Advocacy or campaigning on certain issues relating to the interests of certain groups of society