Introduction
Volunteering refers to the situation when an individual freely enlists to offer a service without expecting any form of payment (Noble & Johnston, 2005). In most parts of the world, volunteering is often considered as one of the ways that people give back to the community without the need to provide material or financial aid. According to experts, a good volunteer is someone who readily offers his or her services towards a cause or project that matches their interests and values about life (Wandberg, 2001).
This means that if someone is highly passionate about eradication of poverty, they should look for projects that seek to address the same problem. There are numerous opportunities for people to volunteer their services and make a difference in the life of various people. Voluntary work across the world mainly involves helping orphans, disabled persons, the elderly, and people struck by disasters among others. Studies have established that there are numerous projects, organizations, and programs offering voluntary services in various countries across the world (Wandberg, 2001). Volunteering is necessitated by factors such as clear processes for voluntary service and availability of numerous opportunities. However, the concept of volunteering in some parts of the world has been characterized by lack of proper understanding and effective programs for encouraging people to offer their services (Perren, 2008).
Effective voluntary work involves developing a clear understanding of the impact that such individuals have in the society and the possible effects if no one was willing to offer their services for free (Noble & Johnston, 2005). Volunteering is a good activity for both young and old people across the world, thus the need to establish a program that will allow everyone to offer their services with ease.
Background of volunteering across the world
The culture of volunteering has been in existence for many years in various parts across the world. People offer their services for various reasons. Volunteers argue that it feels good to help whenever they can, especially if the help is directed towards the less privileged in society. The main motivation of individuals who volunteer their services is to make a positive impact in the community (Perren, 2008). Volunteers in various parts of the world basically engage in almost similar activities that include helping the homeless, the disabled, orphaned children, cleaning the streets, visiting the sick in hospitals, and taking care of the elderly in society. Although the activities may be different in a few countries, their motivation is always to make a difference in people’s lives.
The culture of volunteering is very deep-rooted in countries such as the United States of America (Noble & Johnston, 2005). People in the country are more accustomed to offering their services to various causes within their respective communities. People are mostly involved in activities such as helping the homeless, caring for the sick, cleaning parks, and helping the old (Wandberg, 2001). A good example of a time when volunteers made a huge impact in America was during the Hurricane Sandy, which left many people homeless and with no food. Volunteers were responsible for housing the victims, feeding them, and providing health care services whenever need arose.
Over the years, the concept of volunteering has been changing as most parts of the world continue to become industrialized (Noble & Johnston, 2005). A number of international bodies such as the United Nations have developed programs to encourage people, especially retired professionals in developed countries to volunteer their services in developing countries that have limited expertise in some areas (Dekker & Halman, 2012).
For example, a number of companies in the United States of America and the United Kingdom have well structured programs that allow their employees to move abroad to do voluntary work as part of their professional development. The most common form of voluntary work done by such companies is medical camps where people get free medical checkups and are given the necessary medication (Lawson, 2006).
Another common form of voluntary work done is teaching. Retired teachers from the United States of America offer their services in various countries with the aim of improving the quality of education offered (Wandberg, 2001). A good example is in India where major universities have volunteer teachers from the United States whose main aim is to improve the quality of English language among the people graduating and entering the labor market. Studies have established that most voluntary work across the world is being taken up by young people who consider it as an opportunity to gain more knowledge about the world and their interests (Wandberg, 2001).
Benefits of volunteers
Volunteers play a crucial role in the society in terms of making a positive impact. It is important for people to appreciate the efforts made by volunteers because life would be very different if there were no people offering to do some things. There are numerous benefits associated with voluntary work across the world. First, volunteers play a pivotal role in delivery of critical services such as rescue missions to various people across the world (Perren, 2008). Disasters are inevitable and people can suffer great losses if they had not anticipated and prepared for any shortcomings.
Disasters such as fire outbreaks, earthquakes, storms, and terrorist attacks often lead to critical moments in the life of victims who cannot do much without the help of volunteers. In such times, volunteers offer critical services such as rescuing the victims, providing counseling, feeding, and sheltering those left without homes (Perren, 2008). A good example is the infamous 9/11 attacks in the United States of America that left many people injured and several others with no source of income. Volunteers made a huge impact in helping the country recover from the attacks as many people offered counseling and health care services to the victims. Volunteers also offer their services in centers that deal with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault (Bennett, 2001).
Second, volunteers are very important with regard to keeping the environment clean. Studies have established that volunteers across the world are responsible for collecting waste in parks, streets, and around the neighborhood. Waste management is one of the main challenges that people would be facing if there were no volunteers to collect garbage (Bennett, 2001). Everyone deserves to stay in a clean environment, thus the need to thank volunteers for the good work they do of making the surroundings clean and safe. Third, volunteers are good because they improve the quality of life by mentoring young people, teaching various new things about life, connecting them to various support programs, and encouraging entrepreneurial habits (Noble & Johnston, 2005).
Volunteers working in developing countries and poor communities often create empowerment programs for young people. Such opportunities would not be available to most people if they involved paying some fees. Volunteers act as a link between the community and the numerous opportunities (Bennett, 2001). For example, volunteers who organize sport clinics and tournaments in various communities play a pivotal role in helping people to bond, relieve stress, and get help with their personal issues (Perren, 2008). Such activities engage community members in various beneficial activities.
Fourth, volunteers are important because they help to create public awareness about crucial issues such as public health, safety, development of education (Lawson, 2006). Studies have established that numerous professionals around the world donate their time towards worthwhile causes in society. Doctors, nurses, safety experts, and scholars use their knowledge to impact positive change in society by increasing people’s awareness about crucial aspects (Lawson, 2006).
Fifth, volunteering helps people to gain new experiences and insights about life. Voluntary work allows for interaction between diverse people who share their experiences and knowledge (Dekker & Halman, 2012). This helps people to give back and help others who might not be as privileged in life to afford basic needs and other essential things such as education. Voluntary works exposes the both set of people involved to new experiences that help to shape their lives in better ways (Lawson, 2006).
Another benefit of volunteering is that it helps people to create connections (Lawson, 2006). Experts argue that building relationships is one of the most important aspects of life regardless of someone’s age or social status. For example, in the United States of America, students are very fond of volunteering in order to create connections that will help them get employment after graduation. Voluntary work helps them to showcase their abilities to potential employers. At the same time, society benefits a lot from the services offered by such students because they impact some of the knowledge acquired in class on the people they interact with over the course of various programs (Bennett, 2001).
The proposal
Saudi Arabia has faced a number of disasters that required the input of volunteers. Volunteers play a crucial role in society in terms of providing crucial services in times of disaster. Social work experts argue that establishing a department mainly focused on voluntary work in the country would be a huge step towards improving the quality of life and also exposing people to different experiences. In Saudi Arabia, volunteering is considered a bureaucracy because the actions of listed organizations are obstructed by insistence on unnecessary procedures and red tape (Niblock, 2004).
However, this has not affected the will and ability of Saudis to offer their services whenever a need to do arises. Currently, there are more than ten charitable organizations working in the country. They include Union of Good, Al Basar International Foundation, Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation, Al-Haramain Foundation, Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, and the International Islamic Charity Organization. These organizations provide Saudis with numerous opportunities to offer their services and make a positive impact in society. However, people go through a tedious process before they receive their permit to volunteer (North & Tripp, 2011).
Although the whole process is developed with the need to protect the sovereignty and interests of the people, there is a need to create a department that will primarily focus on giving permits for voluntary work. In addition, the working conditions for international and national organizations should be harmonized in order to give equal opportunities to everyone (Niblock, 2004). The people of Saudi Arabia will enjoy numerous benefits through the creation of such a department because voluntary services will be readily available.
The proposed department should be linked with some of the major organizations such as the Red Crescent society, which does voluntary work. In addition, the department should also develop links with major institutions of higher learning, as undergraduate students and fresh graduates make good candidates for voluntary work (Niblock, 2004).
Studies have established that one of the most effective ways becoming a volunteer in the country is through enrolling in a university. Organizations that focus on promoting democracy and human rights in the country often engage university students in their activities as part of their learning process. Internships in Saudi Arabia are often given to undergraduate students and graduates who are willing to learn about the country’s developments in social, political, economic, educational, and religious spheres (Niblock, 2004).
The interns perform a number of duties and responsibilities related to their areas of interest. Volunteering has a number of surprising benefits, especially to students, the young generation, and the community as a whole. Experts argue that finding the right cause to offer one’s services plays a crucial role in helping people make friends, develop new skills, build their careers, and making an impact in the community (Stebbins, 2007).
Another reason as to why the department should be created is that it will help to improve the health status of volunteers. According to psychologists, volunteering is very good for the mind and body because it helps to fight depression and a confidence booster. Studies have established that people who volunteer their services enjoy more satisfaction in life coupled with high self esteem (Stebbins, 2007).
Volunteering involves helping others while benefiting at the same time. Volunteering helps to fight challenges such as social isolation that contributes to most cases of depression, especially among young people. Volunteering also helps people to maintain their physical health because they will be active most of the time. Creating a department whose main focus will be on voluntary services in Saudi Arabia will be great because of the numerous benefits that people are going to enjoy. The department will increase the efficiency of voluntary services and the ability of more organizations to create volunteering programs due to the motivation of meeting few conditions before starting (Dekker & Halman, 2012).
Over the years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a number of natural disasters whose effects could have been lesser if there were enough volunteers to help out the victims. One such disaster is the 2009 Jeddah floods, which was the worst disaster to have struck the country in close to three decades (North & Tripp, 2011). The floods resulted in the death of one hundred and twenty two people and more than three hundred were reported missing. The disaster also led to damage of property of unknown value estimated to be in millions of dollars. The flooding happened before the city hosted millions of Islam faithful during the Hajj pilgrimage that happened every year (North & Tripp, 2011).
Experts argue that the disaster could have had a bigger impact if it had happened a few days alter, as Jeddah was the main entry point for people attending the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. There would have been more people injured or killed during the disaster because the King Abdulaziz University was close by although the students were on holiday (North & Tripp, 2011).
At the time of this disaster, Jeddah was estimated to have a population of more than three million people. Most of these people did not make a huge difference after the disaster because they did not have permits to volunteer their services. Volunteers would have made a huge impact during the disaster in terms of finding the missing people, counseling the affected families and friends, as well as providing emergency health care services (North & Tripp, 2011). It is important to understand that authorities may not be well prepared to handle disasters all the time, thus the need to engage volunteers as much as possible (Stebbins, 2007). The few that offered their services did not meet the demand for expertise with regard to providing urgent service.
Implementation of the proposal
Creating a department focusing on voluntary work is not a new phenomenon in the world. Countries such as the United States of America have successfully set up government agencies to conduct and monitor activities relating to voluntary work. If the proposed department on volunteering in Saudi Arabia is accepted and implemented, the working modalities will be almost similar to those applied in other countries. The main determining factor for the success of this department will be the kind of connections it will have with the organizations already offering opportunities for voluntary work (Bennett, 2001).
A good example is the Red Crescent society, which has operated in the country for several years. In addition, the department should develop its goals and objective with an orientation to increase the value of doing voluntary work. This means that the department should strive to encourage people into taking up volunteering opportunities because the real value of one’s effort is determined by the amount of impact made.
It is important to appreciate the efforts that people make to volunteer their services. The most effective strategy of establishing the real value of voluntary work is determining the level of impact made by volunteers in the lives of needy people in society (Bennett, 2001). Experts argue that voluntary work should not be valued using monetary terms because it will undermine its real value, which is offering one self to other for free in order for them to benefit (Dekker & Halman, 2012).
The government of Saudi Arabia will be responsible for funding the operations of this department. The reason for this is to motivate people into doing voluntary work because they will feel the support of the government in their cause to make a positive impact in society. In addition, the department can also fund its activities by asking for registration and renewal fees from every organization that shows interest in offering opportunities for volunteers in the country. This will ensure that only serious organizations get registered and given the permit to operate. The main duty of this department will be to coordinate all issues relating to volunteering in terms of registering credible organizations, assessing their programs, monitoring and assessment, as well as ensuring all Saudis get equal opportunities to give back to their respective communities (Dekker & Halman, 2012).
It is important for the government to ensure that the department is headed by high qualified and experienced individuals with the ability to create a reputation that will attract voluntary organizations from various parts of the world.
Conclusion
If the proposal for this department will be accepted, the culture of volunteering in Saudi Arabia will grow tremendously. The number of people volunteering in a year will double within the first year. With good management and adequate support from the government, the department will help to the country to attract international investors who will be attracted by the spirit of togetherness. The health care index in the country is likely to improve because people will reduce their chances of suffering from conditions such as depression, stroke, and anxiety. Volunteering helps people to relieve stress from their bodies by giving the mind different things to absorb.
The department will also help to create job opportunities for various people, thus improving the economy. Implementation of the proposal will also influence on the quality of life, as people will have greater knowledge about life, helping others, appreciating everyone, and the act of giving without necessarily expecting something back. The department will encourage more people to get into voluntary work and seize the opportunity to make a difference in society. The government can also used this opportunity to market the country to international organizations that would be interested in doing voluntary work with Saudis.
References
Bennett, C.A. (2001). Volunteering: The Selfish Benefits: How to Achieve Deep-Down Satisfaction and Create Desire in Others. San Francisco: Committee Communications. Web.
Dekker, P., & Halman, L. (2012). The Values of Volunteering: Cross-Cultural Perspectives. New York: Springer Science & Business Media. Web.
Lawson, D. M. (2006). Volunteering: 101 Ways You Can Improve the World and your Life. New Jersey: ALTI Publishers. Web.
Niblock, T. (2004). Saudi Arabia: Power, Legitimacy and Survival. New Jersey: Routledge. Web.
Noble, J., & Johnston, F. (2005). Volunteering Visions. New York: Taylor & Francis. Web.
North, P., & Tripp, H. (2011). Culture Shock! Saudi Arabia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette. Massachusetts: Marshall Cavendish International Asia Ltd. Web.
Perren, J.M. (2008). Intercultural Language Socialization through Volunteering: A Qualitative Study of Directive use in Nonprofit Organizations. New York: Pro Quest. Web.
Stebbins, R.A. (2007). Between Work and Leisure: A Study of the Common Ground of two Separate Worlds. New York: Transaction Publishers. Web.
Wandberg, R. (2001). Volunteering: Giving Back. California: Capstone Press. Web.