The psychology of the volunteer

Has anyone stopped to ponder about the phenomenon of voluntary work? It is very much part and parcel of our lives as Maltese people and perhaps most of us have the tendency to take it for granted. For non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija, voluntary work is considered a most vital human resource without which most of the operations of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija would not be done.

I would like to share with readers some of my views regarding the psychology of voluntary work or, rather, of people who dedicate their time and energy without getting monetary remuneration in return.

In a world where one might feel compelled to invest one's time and energy in something which is materially fruitful, doing work for no money might seem actually puzzling. Some philosophers believe that people are intrinsically egoistic and a person would never do anything without him or her being sure they will get something in return. Would this notion fit in with what we have been saying of voluntary work? Well, I think one can combine both aspects of this interesting argument without being stuck in a contradiction.

While most people expect monetary rewards for their work, volunteers do expect something in return but these rewards take the shape of gratitude, happiness, solidarity and a sense of worthiness, among other things.

Getting something back for one's efforts is in fact a very natural and healthy phenomenon in human nature. I would tend to be worried if someone would not want or even expect any form of satisfaction for doing a good deed. Giving something gives a sense of purpose to a person's actions and, I dare say, to one's life in a broader sense. A volunteer starts building the identity of a giver; a person who gives out of his or her own free will. A volunteer is a person who is doing something beyond him/herself and for the greater good of others.

In the case of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija volunteers help in order to aid the organisation to cater for people with disabilities in the best possible ways. Contrary to many people's beliefs, voluntary work at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija does not mean working directly with people with disabilities. While this might be the case (if the volunteer has an aptitude for it and possesses some skills), most of the volunteers help out in the areas of Ir-Razzett such as in the animal park, in the gardens and with the animals, in the horse-riding section, in pottery, in the pool activities, in organising and supporting functions and events and in regular fund-raising activities.

Other volunteers work from a greater distance, without stepping through the doors of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija. These are people who design brochures, logos and posters without charging for their work. There are also photographers, mechanics, technicians and other people who donate some of their own assets to an organisation which will make good use of their precious donation.

All volunteers work for the higher aim of helping out people who are in need, who are less lucky than them in some areas of their lives. This aspect prompts a volunteer to act in a generous way towards a common and noble goal.

The newly found identity of "a person who gives" creates an inner sense of well-being, which is soothing and boosts one's opinion of oneself. This is also one of the rewards of being a volunteer.

Most people might get the idea that volunteers are mostly people in the higher age bracket of society. While it is a fact that many volunteers are retired (or nearly retired) people who have plenty of time on their hands, one will be amazed at the number of young people who regularly keep weekly or monthly commitments towards an activity on which they have decided to embark. All of the concepts mentioned above of course apply also to younger people. Added to that one can also mention the fact that young volunteers start their work experience this way or consolidate their experience.

While voluntary work might be regarded as more flexible than paid full-time employment one does need to be ready to take on a commitment and to be responsible for the task assigned. This translates itself into being punctual, being focused on the activity, carrying it out to the best of one's ability and getting satisfaction in the process.

Results are also expected from volunteers once they are fulfilling a particular role and in psychological terms this is very important for the volunteer. If the volunteer's work is disregarded as dispensable, replaceable or not valuable, there would be no purpose in performing it in the first place. Thus, the expectations on the volunteer are considerable and only through such expectations can one get the satisfaction one needs to make one's activity/donation meaningful.

Yet another element which is important for a volunteer is the sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself and which expands further than one's role in one's immediate family. Volunteers feel they are a part of the place, a part of Ir-Razzett. They are invited and encouraged to attend to staff meetings, to give their views and feedback. Some volunteers have invested years of their lives to see something good happening gradually. They would relate with fondness how Ir-Razzett was like 16 years ago, who they had met and how the place has physically changed. Younger and more recent volunteers also have their own stories to tell, of times spent at Ir-Razzett, of curious or funny episodes. The volunteer feels part of a bigger family and of a wide network, which strengthens and enriches his/her personality and life.

Even after having gone through the psychology of volunteer work, I still cannot help being amazed time and time again when I look at the people who swarm our doors every day and automatically start their work. People who are new to Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija might not realise that some of the people wearing Ir-Razzett t-shirts are actually volunteers. I am still amazed at the smiles I get every day from these people who come to help out. And the least thing I feel I can do is thanking them for their kind donation - for the donation of their time, energy and ability to love life beyond themselves. Thank you!

Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija is a local charity which renders therapeutic, leisure and educational services for people of all abilities and services free of charge to people with disabilities. If you would like to become a volunteer, especially in the summer months, you can contact the author on 21636526 or 21634412 or via lisas@razzett.org.