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Volunteering is an important concept whenever it is involved in offering help in a much more committed manner as contrasted to sporadic forms of assisting people or groups. The essay also evaluates the concept of social capital in depth, what it entails, the processes involved in it and how it ties in with the perspective of offering committed assistance: volunteering. It also postulates a survey on the contributions and roles played by these two particular ideas, as pertains to the concept of social cohesion. Examples of real organizations and existing situations will be reflected in the discourse of this particular piece of writing.
Volunteering as a concept can be defined as any particular activity whereby free amounts of time are availed to a particular individual, normally referred to as a volunteer. The purpose of availing such free amounts of time to a particular individual rests with the individual having to undertake certain activities that will be beneficiary to the recipients of the volunteer work. They can vary from other individuals to different types of groups and even to government agencies, as well as larger organizations. In the process of undertaking volunteer work, the process being beneficial to the volunteers is also likely to take place.
As such, it is presumed that volunteer work, though primarily intended to benefit other individuals, groups and different types of organizations, it can easily secondarily benefit the volunteers undertaking the particular task. Nevertheless, the issue of volunteer work benefiting those undertaking the process is rejected by some scholars, who holds that if a given volunteer work process yields benefits tantamount to remuneration, then the work undertaken is not really volunteer work in its narrowest sense.
The process of volunteering is one that is usually highly proactive in nature, as opposed to reactive forms of assistance activities whereby help always comes after a given event has occurred or a situation has arisen. For example, a group of individuals who may be able to organize themselves and visit adult care homes to help with various chores and tasks in a given period can fit the definition and description of being volunteers. On the other hand, a group of individuals who may intervene in a harassing situation are not necessarily volunteers in the strictest sense, since the situation is reactionary. Furthermore, the involved individuals intervening may do so with certain expectations or rewards, as such making them not to fit a classical, narrower definition of volunteering processes.
The processes and undertaking involved in the concept of volunteering does not just imply any helping or assisting activities minus remuneration. Instead, the process of volunteering steers clear of obligatory pressures, as those individuals who are taking part in the processes should have made sound choices to be involved and they are committed to offering their assistance to those who need it most. There are usually a number of reasons and issues that push certain individuals, groups or even larger organizations to be involved in actions and undertakings that will be of benefit to particular people. These reasons have a higher degree of variability, and may be reliant on a number of other aspects.
Some of these aspects, which normally act as a motivating factor, include: the desire to give back to a community where an individual grew up in, to help preserve the environment and also, making a difference in the lives of people who are undergoing difficulties. Furthermore, undertaking processes that go along with volunteering can enable an individual to attain adequate and newer skills, experiences as well as know-how, thereby increasing their respective capacities and productivity. There are numerous theoretical perspectives that attempt to explain the processes and activities that usually go with the concept of volunteering. These different perspectives and schools of thought rotate around certain issues that characterize the process of volunteering, such as whether the benefit of volunteer work is double or single-sided, the roles different behavioral patterns have in impacting volunteer work and also, the impact that social networks and social roles, as well as values orientation impose on volunteering processes and activities.
In an attempt to explain the theoretical perspective behind volunteering and the individuals, groups or organizations who are most likely to be involved in such engagements, the scholars further contend that there needs to be a hybrid theory in order to sufficiently examine and explain such questions. These two authors moreover argue that there are three major perspectives as to why individuals, groups or organizations normally undertake volunteer work. First, they observe that economic factors and human capital resource play an important role in determining whether an individual, group or organization will get involved in volunteering, since people who cannot feed themselves nor secure the basic needs will definitely have neither the drive, nor motivation to engage in volunteering activities.
Second, the values and pro-social orientation of different individuals, groups and organizations will most definitely impact on those that are engaged in volunteering involvements, as the beliefs and attitudes of individuals , groups and organizations will inform in them any form of social responsibility, as well as behavioral patterns that can be considered altruistic in nature. Third, as the two further argues, rests with the social context within which different potential volunteer individuals, groups or organizations originate and interact. Social context, social integration, as well as different social networks within a particular society set up normally informs the different social roles that need to be carried out by various individuals, groups and organizations.
Following this line of reasoning, social context and networks are decisive parameters that can easily influence the people or groups who become involved in different volunteering engagements. A good example of an organization that takes part in massive volunteer work on a global scale is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which fits into most of the perspectives outlined to be the motivating factors for an individual, group or organization. The International Committee of the Red Cross organization volunteers owing to a sense of social responsibility and the desire for humanitarian support to the areas in the world that have experienced such natural disasters as earthquakes and massive floods, as well as humanitarian crises such as starvation and violence in civil wars and armed conflict.
Furthermore, the International Committee of the Red Cross engages itself in offering real time life saving techniques training and support for emergency relief to local organizations and groups. Thus, the two perspectives of value and pro-social orientation, as well as the social context and circumstances within which they operate fits well into the description of the International Committee of the Red Cross, with economic factors and capital resource applying too in minimal effect. The situations in which it is involved are also good examples of volunteer areas of work.
Retrospectively, social capital is a concept within the field of social sciences that is used to refer to the norms, the relationships as well as the institutions that inform and influence the social interactions of a particular society in terms of both quantity and quality. The social capital concept posits that there is some value in different social networks and collective engagements that usually go on in numerous societal set-ups. The concept of social capital is composed of three major components, which are social networks, particularly associations involved in volunteering engagements, social values, particularly trust and also, the norms as well as moral obligations that exist within a particular society.
Consequently, it is asserted that social capital plays a critical role in the development of effective economic systems, as well as integrated political systems, especially whenever the social capital has been accumulated to sufficient levels. A marked decline of social capital is normally the cause of a substantial number of societal problems and issues that affect many countries, regions and societies the world over. These problems and issues arise as a result of malfunctioning or undeveloped social networks, the diminishing of trust and other essential social values that provide the national fabric for many countries and also, due to the erosion of moral obligations and the norms that guide social relations and interactions within a particular societal setup. The case of Italy’s governmental reforms in the years of 1976-1977, particularly in the Northern part of the country, is a good example, whereby the concept of social capital and its ramifications are witnessed first-hand. These particular reform processes that have been initiated by the Italian government enabled the accumulated social capital in the region to ensure a marked increase in economic prosperity and well-being, as well as well functioning local government system.
As it can be observed from the above case, it can be deduced that the value, which different social networks have for different individuals and groups, defines the essence of social capital. It is social capital and the various aspects and processes associated with it that enables different participants to achieve their intended and set goals and objectives in a much more efficient and effective manner.
The concepts of volunteering and social capital are heavily intertwined and related in different ways that ensures any set goals and objectives, including different types of volunteer work that are effectively achieved. Social capital possibly has a lot of links with the processes involved in volunteering, because both of the two concepts usually place a lot of integral basis and emphasis on certain principles. These principles might include: networking, trust mutual cooperation and even reciprocity. The concept of social capital acts as an effective unifying factor, which bonds the members of a given society, enabling smooth societal activities and interactions, among different participants such as groups, organizations and individuals. In such a community as the one just described, it will be easier for individuals, groups or different organizations to engage themselves in activities and involvements that pertain to volunteer work.
A society that is much closer-knit with smoother social interactions and operations increases the possibility of different members of that society to venture into the processes of volunteering, helping the vulnerable, the sick and disable, as well as those faced with any problems, issues or even disasters. As such, social capital has an influential bearing on the levels of volunteering processes that can be undertaken in a particular society or communal set up. On the converse, a particular society or community that lacks adequate levels of social capital will definitely face difficulties in the matters regarding to social interactions and underdeveloped social networks. Furthermore, such a society experiencing poor social capital levels will lead to increased levels of reluctance by different individuals, groups and organizations in participating in different societal interactions and activities.
Poor levels of social capital will further increase the levels of isolation among various individuals, groups and organizations. Broken social fabric is always precipitated by a poor or undeveloped social capital. In such a society or community, it will be challenging for different individuals, groups and organizations to engage in acts of volunteering. Poor social capital will also affect the levels of social cohesion, as well as social participation, thereby greatly hindering any chances of volunteering in a given societal setup. In this regards, it is evident that a greater link exists between the two concepts of volunteering and social capital.
In the processes involved in developing and improving the social capital of a particular society or community, a lot of voluntary work always takes place, sometimes without the express knowledge of the individuals, groups and organizations carrying out the process. Whenever different individuals, groups and organizations help each other out in different issues and problems during their social networking and interactions, as well as during their participation in different societal projects and programs, they are most often involved in volunteering engagements. Therefore, the link between volunteering and social capital is intensively advanced and cannot be merely assumed away.
Social Cohesion and its Link to Volunteering and Social Capital
Social Cohesion is a concept that refers to the activities and processes denoting the closeness and diminished inequalities among different members and actors of a particular society or community. Social Cohesion further implies that a particular community or society engages in activities and processes leading to common enterprise, as well as the sharing of values and ideas. Thus, the concept of social cohesion implies the various processes that are gradual and aims at developing the values, equality of opportunities and the tackling of common challenges and problems faced by a particular community or society. The concept of social cohesion resonates to a given society being vibrant, hence ensuring the well-being of a particular society. A good example of a society depicting higher levels of social cohesion is Canada. Northern Italy has experienced high social cohesion, too.
The earlier discussed concepts of volunteering and social capital are the main pillars, which play an important role in ensuring the social cohesiveness of a given society. The processes involved in helping and assisting other individuals in different matters in a society serve to bring the community together, as they break down previous class, ethnic and even racial barriers. The existing social capital that enables easier access and drive for volunteering also serves to enhance the social cohesiveness of a particular society.
In conclusion, the main ways in which a particular society can attain higher levels of cohesiveness and closeness rests with its social interactions and networking. Without different individuals, groups, as well as organizations involving themselves in volunteer work and the expansion of a particular society’s social capital and social networks, that particular society or community cannot be able to achieve higher levels of social cohesiveness and closeness.
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