Today, as countries around the world face turbulent economic times, the challenges seem too big for governments to address on their own. The good news is that globally, citizens are engaged in addressing social issues at greater levels than ever before. At the same time, governments are launching civic engagement campaigns, corporations are championing employee-led initiatives and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and innovative NGOs are harnessing the talents of volunteers in new and powerful ways. On the road to economic recovery, these combined efforts at stimulating volunteerism have a great deal to offer.
While service is not a panacea, it can help address some of the social challenges threatening communities: economic inequality, educational access, and health issues. Moreover, volunteerism offers many tangible benefits. It serves to knit together sectors of society which don't always work closely together. Individuals, particularly youth, can gain valuable experience and exposure to networks for future paid employment. Volunteers also develop a life-long ethic of civic engagement. In addition, governments benefit by promoting more vibrant democratic engagement.
Many companies already understand the value of expanding their CSR programs: these programs enhance their standing, establish links, and provide brand recognition in the communities and populations that are served. Moreover, CSR programs enrich employees with better quality of life and new skill sets.
Volunteers represent an enormous global presence. Conservative estimates produced by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies show that approximately 971 million people volunteer in a typical year across the globe either through organizations or directly to persons outside their household. Not only is the volunteer workforce numerous, but also it represents an enormous economic force. The estimated monetary value of these volunteers' time, as of 2005, is $1.348 trillion. These figures illustrate that although not formally measured, volunteerism contributes significantly to national productivity.
To more effectively leverage this under tapped resource, the Meridian International Center in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Spain and the Rafael del Pino Foundation in Madrid are bringing together global service leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors. In a summit this week in Madrid, these service leaders will share their best thinking and connect with one another to magnify the impact of service in countries around the world.
Spain was selected as the host country for this summit, due in part to the fact that its economic challenges-- high unemployment and cuts in government spending-- are shared by so many other countries, including the U.S. However, it is also a country with an already vibrant volunteer culture. The Summit looks to both learn from and enhance that sector and apply the lessons learned to other societies, including the U.S.
The Summit is attracting participation at the highest levels of the Spanish and U.S. governments. HRH Prince Felipe of Austurias, the Spanish crown prince; the Spanish Minister of Health, Ana Mato, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Ann Stock are among those sharing their expertise. Through their involvement and the participation of internationally recognized CSR leaders like IBM and Alcoa, Harvard business guru Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Alan Khazei, Founder of City Year and Be the Change, we will mark a critical step to link countries' best practices on this subject. At the same time, we will generate increased collaboration across the public, private and non-profit sectors. We are certain this Summit will result in new ways to harness volunteering to address some of our shared economic challenges. Participants will stay connected via a dynamic social networking platform that will enable them to continue to exchange ideas and improve the impact of service at home.
There is no doubt that we live in difficult times. The shared challenges are many and complex, but they are not insurmountable. As our nations move toward economic recovery, we must employ a variety of solutions--and one area of great potential is service. Through service we can begin addressing social needs that are too big for governments alone to cope with, we can link different sectors of society in constructive ways, increase overall national productivity and stimulate a culture of service and civic engagement for generations to come.
Follow Stuart W. Holliday on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AMBSHolliday
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How about a (curse word deleted) JOBS BILL? How about advocating for PAY and BENEFITS? From the privledged perch way on high that so many occupy, we seem like, not just cheap labor, but free labor! Consider how we might meet our basic needs, consider human dignity, consider our future before you tell us to give away our work! We see you clearly--do you see us at all?
this is a repub and evangel tea party con but a good one.
volunteers will not replace or pay for a 100,000 dollar medical bill because an american has preexisting medical conditions and no medical insurance.
americans are not big into volunteer work, it is a nation of individuals. exceptions of course.
my advice is raise lots of chickens to barter for your medical bills. if not chickens than turkeys.
Then it won't get done. Get used to it.
As we tell newcomers to Vail or Aspen who are looking for work: "You can't eat the scenery".
MOBILIZATION of People to work for FREE.
ENOUGH taking advantage of people.
The POPE may not pay the NUNS but they get room and board.
WHO is going to pay MY BILLS rent food etc if I volunteer for those SMART machiavellian people who get richer from my FREE work (slavery )????
For those who have BILLS to pay , volunteerism is merely another form of SLAVERY , or FREE Labor . NO WAGE labor.
GET real Mr Holliday. PEOPLE need jobs with a living wage.
Volunteerism is really only for those who are in employment or receive a pension, otherwise the person feels he/she is only good enough for unpaid work. I had a phase like that and it was devastating. I admit to suicidal thoughts during that phase some decades ago.
In Europe, where everyone lived in rented apartments, there was a saying when somebody wanted to take up your time and expertise for nothing 'I have to pay rent, too'.
Thank you for your comment . The ART of FOOLING people to work for free .
I said above that at least when the POPE wants nuns to work for free , their living expenses BOARD and Food is paid for. GREEDY people always take advantage of ANGELS.
There may be market imperfections that require some nonprofits/volunteering to fill, but the large numbers of nonprofits providing jobs and prestige seem to mask the extreme needs for coordinated approaches to the problems they try to solve. The solutions seem to be piecemeal and tied to the personal preferences/biases of the leadership of the nonprofits. Volunteers are hard to manage because they work from their own standards that they project onto the organization's mission.
Nonprofits provide sanctity from the realities of profit/loss in the business world and often are measured by outcomes that they define for themselves. Anyone who criticizes the mission, or its effectiveness, is treated as a pariah.
Let's talk less about corraling unpaid labor. What we should be talking about is what are the important needs, what's the best way to meet them and how much will it really cost to fix.
faved
Correct again !
BUT BASICALLY
" VOLUNTEERISM " is a form of SLAVERY ! how good hearted people are taken advantage of.
VOLUNTEERS are angels who work PRO BONO they are wonderful ! BUT
Volunteering without pay is not going to solve any financial crisis, particularly for the individual citizen.
Someone PLEASE start a liberal news site with real comments and without the garbage.
Volunteers are angels.
BUT VOLUNTEERISM is a form of SLAVERY !
faved
why do you not get what this post is getting at ?
You have to work for FREE if you do not have a job . VOLUNTEERING is working for free.