Dana 4. prosinca Ujedinjeni narodi obilježavaju Međunarodni dan dobrovoljnog rada za ekonomski i društveni napredak. Međutim, što volontiranje zapravo znači? Jednu od najjasnijih definicija je dalo Nacionalno vijeće dobrovoljnih organizacija u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu koje definira volonterstvo kao “svaku neplaćenu aktivnost koja zahtijeva trošenje vremena, obavljanje aktivnosti za zaštitu okoliša ili pojedinaca odnosno grupa ali kada to nisu bliski rođaci volontera''.

Posljednjih desetljeća mnoge zemlje i organizacije poput UN-a i EU promoviraju volontiranje. Volontiranje se smatra nečim korisnim kako za samog volontera, tako i za društvo u cjelini. Zapravo, volontiranje je često usmjereno na rješavanje  problema poput siromaštva ili socijalne isključenosti s kojima se ne bave ili s kojima imaju poteškoće čak i socijalne države. Kao što se može zaključiti iz samog naziva Međunarodnog dana dobrovoljnog rada za ekonomski i društveni napredak, volontiranje se smatra snažnim instrumentom za poboljšanje ekonomskih i društvenih uvjeta. Pored svih svojih prednosti, mnogi ljudi i dalje smatraju volontiranje nečim beskorisnim. Tko su ljudi koji volontiraju i zašto?

Dva istraživača Centra za istraživanje pitanja unapređenja zdravlja na Sveučilištu Leeds Beckett u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu Kris Southby i Jane South su analizirali trenutno stanje znanstvene literature u vezi s ovim pitanjem. Njihovo istraživanje zaključuje da postoji veliki broj potencijalnih prepreka koje mogu biti posljedice starosti, invaliditeta, spola, nacionalne pripadnosti, bračnog i obiteljskog statusa, vjere i seksualnog identiteta. Istraživanje je pokazalo da ovisno o nečijem spolu ili obitelji u kojoj je osoba odrasla, viđenje volontiranja i zbog toga i vjerojatnost toga da će osoba postati volonterom se mogu razlikovati. Na primjer, veća je vjerojatnost da će osoba volontirati u organizacijama mladih ako ima svoju djecu. Osim toga, ako se osoba nalazi u teškoj situaciji, na primjer ima invaliditet, u većini slučajeva biće joj teže naći priliku koja odgovara njenim potrebama. Ovisno o različitim faktorima, vjerojatnost da će osoba postati volonter se može povećati ili smanjiti.

Osim toga, jedan od najvažnijih faktora je ljudski kapital. Veći prihod, bolje obrazovanje i šira mreža društvenih kontakata povećavaju vjerojatnost volontiranja. S druge strane, stalna borba za pristojnu plaću, niska razina obrazovanja i socijalna isključenost uvelike smanjuju vjerojatnost volontiranja. Faktički isključivanje tolikog broja ljudi iz volontiranja je štetno za društvo u cjelini. Razlog za to je nedostatak vremena za volontiranje, kad se, na primjer, radi o radniku koji ima dva posla kako bi zaradio dovoljno novca ili o samohranoj majci koja se mora brinuti o svojoj djeci kad dođe s posla. Istovremeno, to je također rezultat manjka informacija o volontiranju i mogućnostima koje volontiranje pruža.

Moramo promijeniti ovu situaciju. Paradoksalno je da su ljudi koji imaju najveću korist od volontiranja oni koji najvjerojatnije neće volontirati. Prednosti volontiranja su brojne. To je odličan način da proširite mrežu društvenih kontakata i osnažite se, ali istovremeno i budete korisni društvu. Osim toga, volontiranje može pomoći u potrazi za poslom. Konačno, volontiranje obično poboljšava mentalno i fizičko zdravlje.

Uzimajući u obzir da je romska zajednica društveno i ekonomski diskriminirana, Romi moraju prevladati mnoštvo izazova da bi imali mogućnost volontiranja. Zbog ove situacije mnogi Romi smatraju volontiranje gubljenjem vremena. Također je manja vjerojatnost da će Romi imati pristup mogućnostima za volontiranje putem svoje mreže društvenih kontakata. To stvara situaciju u kojoj svi gube. Koristi od volontiranja će imati Romi, ali i cijelo društvo koje može imati puno koristi od volontiranja Roma. Doista, kad se radi o socijalnim pitanjima i integraciji romske zajednice u društvo, Romi imaju najveći legitimitet. To ne znači da je pomoć Roma potrebna samo u romskim organizacijama. Također treba povećati sudjelovanje Roma u nevladinim organizacijama koje rade na drugim pitanjima na lokalnoj, nacionalnoj ili međunarodnoj razini, jer su Romi ne samo dio svoje zajednice, već društva u cjelini.

Institucije poput Europske unije pokušavaju promovirati uključiviji pristup volontiranju. Dobar primjer takvog pristupa je Program koji se zove  Europske snage solidarnosti (ESC). U ovom Programu volonteri dobivaju mjesečnu naknadu koja pokriva njihove osnovne potrebe poput hrane, na takav način pružajući ljudima s nižim prihodima mogućnost za volontiranje. Iako se njegov prethodnik, Program Europska volonterska služba (EVS), više fokusirao na osobni razvoj volontera, ESC se više usredotočuje na pomoć lokalnim zajednicama. Dakle, element solidarnosti je ovdje ključan.

U svijetu u kojem su svi povezani putem Interneta, mladi ljudi postaju sve svjesniji problema na lokalnoj i svjetskoj razini. Postoji nada da će to rezultirati uključivanjem sve većeg broja ljudi u volontiranje, uključujući i pripadnike romske zajednice, te poboljšanjem svijeta u kojem živimo.

 

 

In 2020, with the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, the different ways of helping others and society have been praised by many. Doctors and nurses, but also other workers in markets or farmers have been thanked for their contribution to society. In such a context, the need to act grew in many people's mind. At the same time, without any other reasons than prejudices, minorities such as Roma have been accused of being a potential threat for the spreading of the disease. Volunteering is a way for minority people to show that they are also helpful to solve such a crisis. Stereotypes and understandable justifications stop many persons to be involved in volunteering. However, the benefits of volunteering are way higher, both for the individual and for society.

 

On 4 December, the United Nations celebrate the “International Volunteering Day for Economic and Social Developments”. However, what does volunteering really means? One of the clearest definition is given by the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (United Kingdom) which defines it as “any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives”.

For the past decades, volunteering has been promoted by many countries and organisations such as the UN and the EU. It is seen as something beneficial both to the volunteer himself and society as a whole. Indeed, volunteering often targets issues that even the Welfare State does not address or is struggling to deal with, such as poverty or social exclusion. As illustrated by this International Day, it is seen as a powerful tool to improve both economical and societal aspects. Despite all the benefits of such actions, volunteering is still seen by many as something useless. Who are the people who are more likely to volunteer and why?

Kris Southby and Jane South, two researchers of the Center for Health Promotion Research in Leeds Beckett University (United Kingdom) summarized the current state of scientific literature regarding this question. Their study concludes that the potential barriers are numerous, as they could be the consequence of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, marital status, family, religion and sexual identity. Research showed that depending on someone’s gender or family, the perception of volunteering – and thus, the probability of being a volunteer – might vary. For example, a person will be more likely to be involved in youth organisations while having children. Besides, facing certain deteriorated living conditions, like being a disabled person, it is most of the time harder to find an opportunity which suits the needs of that person. Combining these characteristics, the probability of volunteering might increase or reduce even more.

Finally, one of the most important factors is the capital of the people. A greater income, a better education and a wider social network are increasing the possibility of being a volunteer. On the other hand, a constant struggle to get a decent salary, a low-education level and social exclusion highly reduce the possibility of volunteering. The exclusion de facto of so many people from volunteering is detrimental to society as a whole. It can be explained by the lack of time to dedicate to volunteering, for example for a worker who has two jobs to have a decent income or a single mother who should care about her children after her work. However, it is also the result of a lack of knowledge of what volunteering is and what opportunities are.

This situation has to change. Indeed, it is paradoxical that the people who will get the most benefits from volunteering are the ones who are less likely to do it. The personal gains of being a volunteer are numerous. It is a great way to increase someone’s social network and to self-empower while being useful to society. Moreover, it is an asset to find a job. Finally, volunteering usually improves mental and physical well-being.

Roma might have to come over many challenges before to volunteer as the Roma community is socially and economically discriminated. Because of this situation, volunteering can be perceived by some as a waste of time. Roma are also less likely to have access to volunteering opportunities through their social network. It produces a situation in which everyone is losing. As explained previously, Roma people will get many benefits from volunteering. However, society also needs Roma to volunteer. Indeed, they are the most legitimate ones to work on social issues and the integration of their community in society. That is not to say that their presence is only needed in Roma organisations. Their participation in NGOs working on other issues at the local, national or international scale is also something that has to be increased as Roma are part of the society they live in, and not only their own community.

 

Institutions like the European Union try to promote a more inclusive approach to volunteering. It is for example the case through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). In this program, volunteers get a monthly allowance to cover their basic needs like food, thus allowing people with a lower economic capital to volunteer. While its predecessor, the European Voluntary Service (EVS) shed light on personal development for the volunteer, ESC intends to focus more on helping local communities. Thus, the solidarity component becomes central.

In a world where everyone is connected through the Internet, the Youth is more and more aware of the issues both locally and worldwide. Hopefully, this will increase the civic engagement of people everywhere, including in the Roma community, and participate in the improvement of our common world.