NSTP-CWTS Specific Module 2 Volunteerism Lecture Notes PDF

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PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA (University of the City of Manila) General Luna St., cor. Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila, Philippines OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM Civic Welfare Training Service Tel: 643- [email protected] Specific Module 2 VOLUNTEERISMI. ContentA. Laws and is...

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PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA (University of the City of Manila) General Luna St., cor. Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila, Philippines OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

Civic Welfare Training Service Tel: 643-2563 [email protected]

NSTP-CWTS Specific Module 2 VOLUNTEERISM I.

Content A. Laws and issuances supporting the development of Volunteerism in the Philippines 1. Republic Act 9418 - Volunteer Act of 2007 The Republic Act 9418 of the “Volunteer Act of 2007” states that it shall be the policy of the State to promote the participation of the various sectors of the Filipino society, and as necessary, international and foreign volunteer organizations in public and civic affairs, and adopt and strengthen the practice of volunteerism as a strategy in order to attain national development and international understanding. The inculcation of volunteerism as a way of life shall rekindle in every Filipino the time-honored tradition of bayanihan to foster social justice, solidarity and sustainable development.

2. Republic Act 8044 - The Youth in Nation-Building Act The Republic Act 8044 or the "Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1995" the National Youth Commission (Pambansang Komisyon sa Kabataan), also known as the NYC, it is a government agency in the Philippines that specifically addresses issues surrounding the Filipino youth. It was founded on June 30, 1995. founded

The NYC is the Philippine government's sole policy-making body on youth affairs, but also coordinates and implements programs designed to respond to and raise awareness on youth issues. Its mandate is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution: "The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism; and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs." B.

Concepts of Volunteerism 1. Definition of Terms a. “VOLUNTEERISM” refers to an act involving a wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and developmental interventions that provides an enabling and empowering environment both on the part of the beneficiary receiving and the volunteer rendering the act, undertaken for reasons arising from socio developmental, business or corporate orientation, commitment or conviction for the attainment of the public good and where monetary and other incentives or reward are not the primary motivating factors.

b. “VOLUNTEER” refers to an individual or group who for reasons arising from their socio developmental, business and corporate orientation, commitment or conviction, contribute time, service and resources whether on full-time or part-time basis to a just and essential social development cause, mission or endeavor in the belief that their activity is mutually meaningful and beneficial to public interest as well as to themselves. c. “VOLUNTEER SERVICE ORGANIZATION” refers to a local or foreign group that recruits, trains, deploys and supports volunteer workers to programs and projects implemented by them or by other organizations or any group that provides services and resources, including but not limited to, information, capability building, advocacy and networking for the attainment of the common good.

d. “VOLUNTARY SECTOR” refers to those sectors of Philippine society that organizes themselves into volunteers to take advocacy and action primarily for local and national development as well as international cooperation and understanding. .2. Types of Volunteer Work a. FORMAL- Formal volunteering programs are structured and supervised. These are long term programs that also involve long term, regular attendance from the volunteers. Formal volunteering programs usually have managers or coordinators that recruit, train, supervise, and check volunteers’ work outcomes. These programs have a strong emphasis on policies, procedures, and quality management of services being delivered. Example positions: Tour guide or docent, hospital volunteer, or fundraiser for large charities. Sample activities: Greeting visitors, giving directions, serving meals to patients, printing out and mailing letters. b. GOVERNANCE - Volunteers in governance work provide leadership and direction to an organization. They help in the planning and decisionmaking involved in various aspects of an organization’s operations. Those who fit in this type of work usually have career experience or advocacy related to the organization’s main focus. Example positions: Member of the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit, member of a parish administration board, treasurer for the PTA Sample activities: attending regular meetings, taking minutes of the meeting, basic accounting. c. NON-FORMAL - Non-formal volunteer work is different from informal volunteer work. Non-formal volunteer work is usually done in local communities in unfunded and unstructured settings. Informal volunteer work, on the other hand, are voluntary acts of helping and kindness (like buying an elderly lady neighbour’s groceries or babysitting for a friend).

Those who join non-formal programs often think of themselves as members or friends rather than volunteers. Example positions: Guest instructor, member of a neighbourhood safety patrol or street clean-up. Sample activities: Teaching arts and crafts, going with a group around the neighbourhood to keep it safe, picking up trash. d. SOCIAL ACTION - Social action volunteers are joined together by common advocacy or goal. And like non-formal volunteers, they regard each other as friends or comrades. A social action volunteer program can have structure, for example having a coordinator or leader, but some do not. Volunteers do not usually have regular hours of volunteer time. But volunteers make up for it since they are usually very passionate and motivated about the cause and work hard towards achieving specific social change. Example positions: lobbyist for political groups, campaigner for environmentalism, advocate for research/studies on a certain illness or disease. Sample activities: Attending rallies, talking to people about issues, making placards, gathering signatures, making phone calls. e. PROJECT-BASED - In this type of volunteer work, volunteers provide their services for projects that have defined time frames. This requires volunteers to have specific skills to contribute to clearly defined goals to be delivered at defined schedules. Project-based work can exist within a formal program or can be a stand-alone project. It can have leaders or coordinators but they are not expected to manage the volunteers but work with them. Example positions: Member of a committee planning the anniversary of your town. Sample activities: Welcoming visitors, drafting a communications plan, soliciting advertisers for a commemorative book. f. INTERNSHIP YEAR or GAP YEAR VOLUNTEERING- These types of volunteer work are usually geared for students or young people who want to experience working for a non-profit or for an NGO. More often than not, these are carried out overseas. Volunteers are expected to work within a specific time frame during which they are given the opportunity to experience local culture while providing services like teaching a language or assisting the organization in various tasks. g. ONLINE VOLUNTEERING - Online volunteering work can range from mentoring to helping design websites or assisting in social media campaigns; These types of volunteering provide opportunities for those who have no time, unable to be physically present, housebound, or are in far off places. As long as you’re willing to help, you can get involved.

h. MICRO VOLUNTEERING - Micro-volunteering consists of small actions done online that support a cause. Examples are donating through crowdfunding sites (Kickstarter, GoFundMe, etc.) or joining campaigns by providing your digital signature (example: Open Letters to the government on various issues) via email.

2. Universal Principles of Volunteerism a. Actions are carried out freely and without coercion b. Financial gain is not the main motivating principle c. There is a beneficiary other than the volunteer

C. The Role of the Youth in Strengthening Volunteerism 1. Spread the Good – Most of the country’s population comprises of youth. Communities can tap into this substantial part of the population and significantly increase their volunteer pool. With their vast social networks and technological savviness, youth make for great volunteer recruiters. Encourage teenagers and young helpers to invite their friends, and be amazed at what they can accomplish together. 2.

Introduce Fresher Perspectives - By welcoming youth volunteerism, your organization invites energetic perspectives and new ideas. Generally, involving a cross-section of volunteers can help your programs move forward. Between the ages of 12 and 25, when their brains are fast and sophisticated, teenagers and young adults are especially wired to seek new experiences and take risks. They can adjust easily, are naturally inquisitive, and are more likely to discover creative solutions. Hint: they’re more willing to listen to their peers than older adults, so give your young volunteers the space to communicate– and innovate–with each other.

3. Foster lifelong engagement - Those who volunteer when they’re young are more likely to become philanthropic adults invested in their communities. Participation in volunteer and civic opportunities from an early age instills empathy, inspires a sense of citizenship, and helps youth find pathways to meaningful education and work. In fact, young people who volunteer help to improve the present, while ensuring healthy, secure futures for themselves and their communities. D. The Importance of Voluntary Actions 1. Volunteering connects you to others. One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. a. Make new friends and contacts - Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

b. Increase your social and relationship skills. While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts. c. Volunteering as a family. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you’ll show them first-hand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family. 2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body. Volunteering provides many

benefits to both mental and physical health. a. Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. b. Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression. c. Volunteering makes you happy. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel. d. Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals. e. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life. f. Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less

likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease

3. Volunteering can advance your career. If you’re considering a new career,

can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. a. Teaching you valuable job skills. Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills. b. Gaining career experience. Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career.

4. Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life. Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your dayto-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life. Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp. Consider your goals and interests. You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing?

The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

II.

References 1. RA 8044—The Youth in Nation-Building (1994) 2. RA 9418— The Volunteer Act of 2007 3. Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 4. Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Council (PNVSCA) 5. Online Sources: a. Types of volunteering, Volunteering Queensland; The five types of volunteer programs and how to pick the right one, Steph Dyson, Go Overseas; and 5 different types of volunteering activities, Volunteer Weekly. Retrieved July 5, 2018. b. Youth Volunteerism: How Engaging Young Volunteers Can Benefit Organizations and Individuals https://www.galaxydigital.com/blog/youth-volunteerism/ c. List of Volunteer Organizations (💯Legit) in the Philippines! By Anton Diaz Topics: Manila Life

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