YDS: Youth and Volunteerism

EVENT: YDS ON 'YOUTH AND VOLUNTARISM'

Date: 30 May 2008
Reporter: Mona Aditya

Venue: Martin Chautari, Thapathali
Time duration: Around 2 hours
Objective: To discuss the views on voluntary service amongst young people
Organizer: NYS and Smart Club, Youth Initiative
Organizing committee: Rukh Gurung, Rebati Ram Poudel and Mona Aditya
Total number of participants: 33

DESCRIPTION

This discussion was organized as a part of many discussions being held at grassroot level amongst youth leading to the National Youth Volunteers Conference (June 7^th). NYS in collaboration with Smart Club organized the discussion at Martin Chautari as a part of Youth Discussion Series (YDS) that YI organizes every Friday. The discussion started with the general introduction to the context of volunteerism at the national level followed by a general discussion on four questions:

1. What is volunteerism?
2. Who are volunteers?
3. Why are youths involved in volunteerism in majority?
4. What are the areas/fields in which volunteerism should be applied extensively?
5. What could be done (what plans should be executed) to make the process organized and ethics-based?

After this session, groups were divided for discussion on the same questions so that every participant could have a say. The following were the outcomes:

Group 1

1. What is volunteerism?

A service done voluntarily.

2. Who are volunteers?

Those involved in voluntarism.

3. Why are youths involved in volunteerism in majority?

They are in the stage when they don't have to bear the sole responsibility for their families and have energy and time to invest.

4. The areas/fields in which volunteerism could be applied:

Fields like education, health, environment, awareness-raising, and traffic control

5. What could be done (what plans should be executed) to make the process organized and ethics-based?

Supervision, Networking, Training, Sharing, Motivation, Promotion of Practical Education

Group 2

1. Volunteerism: Service/work done for self-satisfaction.

2. Volunteers: Those involved in volunteerism.

3. Why youths: Spare time, less responsibility, readiness to something new, certificates.

4. Work areas: Physical infrastructures, health, environment, education, social and economic sectors.

5. Plans that could be enforced: Those that discourage monetary gain, those that synchronize volunteerism with education.

Group 3

1. Volunteerism: A service done to a person/society.

2. Volunteers: Those involved in volunteerism.

3. Why youths: Readiness for challenges, free time and relatively less responsibility.

4. Work areas: Society/culture/health/economy/politics.

5. Plans that could be enforced: Code of conduct for the organizations promoting volunteerism.

Group 4

1. Volunteerism: Selfless service

2. Volunteers: Those involved in volunteerism

3. Why youths: Readiness to apply theories from about 15 years of education

4. Work Areas: All

5. Plans that could be enforced: Policy for international volunteers

Group 5

1. Volunteerism: Selfless service, networking, personal development, society, learning, not for profit

2. Volunteers: Individuals working for the benefit of the society with minimum monetary gain

3. Why youths: Free time, less responsibility, energy and enthusiasm, craving for change, zeal for learning, positive attitude

4. Work areas: Health and education, Orphanages, Environment, Social sector, Human rights awareness, Conflict Mediation

5. Plans that could be enforced: A central governing body