Modern volunteerism in the context of community work of CBOs: Is it another form of community engagement?

Abstract

Based on the author’s2 experience and field observations in community work and volunteering practice with Community based Organisations (CBOs), the proposition that the new activism of modern volunteering is another form of community engagement is discussed in this paper. The author identifies task centred and connection-centred volunteering as two forms of modern volunteering that the CBOs apply in their work in communities. The first form of volunteering does not promote active community connection and engagement because the volunteer action is very-much task-oriented, described, directed, controlled and supervised by the CBO. The latter however promotes a more versatile and reciprocity style connection in which all participants, volunteers, CBO and community, are actively, and almost equally, involved in all aspects of volunteering action. It generates an enabling community environment where everyone is closely connected among each other, and to internal and external community networks and institutional structures. It facilitates the work of CBOs to generate maximum positive outcomes of their work which benefit the wellbeing of entire community. Moreover, such a model of volunteerism also seems to be promoting an effective community engagement by which means the conditions are created for higher level of social capital to be accumulated within communities.