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Description
Citizens most often associate the term volunteering with humanitarian work; not recognizing it as civic activism that can move a community. Volunteer engagement is not sufficiently recognized in the education system. Educational institutions do not work on training staff in the field of volunteering, nor do they encourage them to create volunteer programs for students.
Oaza conducted a survey among high school students on volunteering in 2012, and again in 2016. It can be noted that the knowledge of student volunteering in 2016 increased significantly compared to 2012. Awareness of volunteering is growing and developing among young people. However, most students still believe that volunteering is mainly about helping people in need.
In order to create and test volunteer programs in educational institutions, a focus group will be organized with representatives of secondary schools and associations in Baranja. Through a conversation with the pedagogues of three secondary schools, we will emphasize support in the creation of volunteer programs that will be included in the curriculum of the next school year.
The workshops "Being a volunteer" and "Volunteer management" will introduce students to the basics of volunteering and teach them how to organize volunteer actions. Together with the organizers of volunteering in the community (Crveni križ Beli Manastir, DŠO, "Oaza") and representatives of secondary schools, a round table on the topic "How to interest and encourage students and citizens to volunteer" will be organized.
Two volunteer actions will be organized (help for the elderly, and the other according to the user''s choice) together with students and citizens of Beli Manastir.
In 2022, a volunteer action was organized for the first time as part of the Day of Good Deeds celebration, which met with a great response from student volunteers and citizens. Through this project, in 2023, another volunteer action will be organized to mark this day.
Summary of project results
According to the 2011 census, Beli Manastir had a population of 6,390, which, when including the surrounding settlements, increased to 8,053. However, this represents a decline of 2,015 individuals since 2011, primarily due to emigration, particularly among the younger population, driven by high unemployment rates. As a result, Beli Manastir has become a city where the issue of material survival has taken center stage.
Since its establishment in 1998, "Oaza" has observed a significant sense of apathy among the local population through its volunteer and professional efforts. This apathy can be attributed to post-war conditions, unemployment, concerns about basic existence, and unfortunately, a diminishing willingness to engage in volunteer work.
"Oaza" conducted two surveys among high school students in Baranja regarding volunteering. The first survey took place in 2012 with students from the Gymnasium and the Second High School in Beli Manastir, and the second was in 2016, focusing solely on the Gymnasium.
While most students were aware of what volunteering entails, many did not actively participate or express interest in becoming volunteers. They often viewed volunteering as unpaid labor. Although some acknowledged that volunteering involves helping those in need, it is disheartening that despite understanding its meaning, they still choose not to volunteer. This indicates a pressing need for education about volunteering, particularly among the youth. Importantly, many students were unaware of the Volunteer Act and the rights and obligations associated with volunteering. This is an area where young people have only a superficial understanding, and it is crucial to work on changing this.
It is essential to demonstrate the benefits of volunteering to young people and to encourage them to shift their perspectives on it. For many years, "Oaza" has operated a volunteer center that connects both volunteers and those in need of assistance. Volunteering is vital for the community, as it not only helps others but also contributes to the individual development of the volunteers themselves. It is a reciprocal process where volunteers gain new knowledge and experiences while also fostering positive change within the community.
Over the course of our project, we achieved more than we initially planned, and we’re excited to share the journey. It all started with a simple survey. We aimed to hear from 100 students, but 117 stepped up, eager to voice their thoughts. This unexpected engagement set the tone for what was to come.
Next, we dove into the heart of the project: education. We hosted the “Being a Volunteer” workshop for students from three high schools in Beli Manastir. Originally, we planned for 10 students, but 12 passionate young people joined us. Together, they explored the essentials of volunteering, learning about the legal aspects, their rights, and the responsibilities that come with making a difference.
But we didn’t stop there. We also organized a “Volunteer Management” training where students gained valuable skills in planning and organizing volunteer actions. Although 10 students attended the first day and 9 returned for the second, their enthusiasm was evident as they grasped the tools to lead future initiatives.
In another exciting turn, we had 13 students participate in a special training for volunteer coordinators—three more than we had expected! These students are now equipped to issue certificates of competency for their peers, acknowledging the skills they gained through volunteering.
Our efforts bore fruit in the form of two volunteer actions, where, just as planned, 20 volunteers came together to make an impact. And while they were busy doing good, we gathered representatives from schools and NGOs in a focus group to share their experiences, exchanging invaluable insights on working with volunteers.
One of the highlights was the roundtable discussion on how to inspire students and the wider community to volunteer. With 7 volunteer coordinators, we exceeded our expectations again (we originally planned for 5) and walked away with fresh ideas and motivation to keep the momentum going.
We’re proud to have developed two brand-new volunteer programs for local high schools: one for the gymnasium and another for the Secondary School of Beli Manastir. These will pave the way for more structured volunteerism in the future.
A particularly heartwarming moment came during our Good Deeds Day celebration. Fourteen volunteers hosted an event for elderly citizens, complete with a short theater performance, songs, and delicious traditional dishes. Sixteen seniors attended, and the atmosphere was filled with joy and appreciation.
To spread the word about our activities, we went above and beyond. While we initially planned for 30 articles on our website, we ended up publishing 70! We also shared 14 articles on other portals, posted 9 photo albums and 48 updates on our Facebook page, and even created 3 YouTube videos capturing the spirit of our volunteer actions.
Lastly, we crafted promotional materials for 50 users, ensuring our efforts left a lasting impression.
Throughout the project, we made sure to document every step, from attendance lists to photo documentation, and published it all online to keep our community informed and engaged.
Based on the 2016 research on high school students'' knowledge of volunteering, we observed significant progress by 2023. Students today have a much better understanding of volunteering, yet many are still unsure of where to volunteer or how to organize a volunteer action on their own.
To explore and develop volunteer programs in educational institutions, we organized a focus group with representatives from schools and NGOs in the Baranja region. Led by a psychologist, the group highlighted that while volunteering is more recognized, its societal value is still underappreciated. Participants stressed that skills gained through volunteering, such as personal development and skill acquisition (e.g., communication, social, and organizational skills), are not adequately recognized when it comes to employment or education.
This indicates a need for broader societal recognition of volunteering, particularly for young people, as it fosters personal growth, boosts confidence and empathy, and equips them with crucial life skills. The focus group also noted that volunteering has great potential for growth in the future.
Given the many benefits of volunteering for both individuals and society, further research is essential. It’s crucial to assess the perspectives, experiences, and thoughts of young potential volunteers. This would help create new policies, strategies, and projects aimed at promoting youth volunteerism in Croatia.
As part of the project, we also organized educational workshops like "Being a Volunteer" and "Volunteer Management." These sessions introduced students to the basics of volunteering and how to organize volunteer actions themselves. The participants were highly motivated, eager to learn, and expressed a strong interest in continuing their volunteer work within the community.
We also worked with local volunteer organizers such as the Red Cross, the Volunteer Fire Department (DVD), and "Oaza," alongside high school representatives, to host a roundtable on "How to Engage Students and Citizens in Volunteering." Key conclusions included:
- Volunteering should be more valued, even if only as much as is currently feasible.
- Certificates of volunteering should be issued to give volunteers a sense of recognition.
- The value of volunteering, the "equivalent of giving," needs to be emphasized more publicly.
- Parents should be encouraged to volunteer alongside their children, setting an example for them.
Three volunteer actions were organized with students and citizens of Beli Manastir. The residents of the Home for the Elderly and Disabled, as well as the volunteers, expressed great satisfaction with the experience, emphasizing the need for such activities to continue regularly.
The project also addressed national challenges by focusing on underdeveloped, rural areas and including vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, individuals from various cultural and national backgrounds, and those from different social statuses.
One of the project’s greatest contributions was fostering intergenerational cooperation, bringing together people of different ages—both volunteers and the elderly—through social activities in the elderly home.
Through informal education on volunteerism, high school students from Baranja gained valuable insights into how civic engagement can improve the quality of life for others, especially those at risk, while simultaneously contributing to their own personal growth.