Volunteering becomes 1 of the key elements of building social capital in Poland – it strengthens local communities, increases social trust and teaches joint responsibility. Although almost a 3rd of adult Poles regularly engage in it, the state and NGOs see enormous, inactive untapped potential. Companies like the Żabka Group besides have their function in its development, which enable their employees to participate in voluntary actions and encourage them to do so – Newseria Biznes informs.
“Every individual who engages in volunteering needs to be thanked due to the fact that even a tiny scale changes a lot, especially in the environment of this 1 individual and surrounded by people who request support. Statistically nearly 1/3 of Poles between 18 and 89 years of age are engaged permanently in volunteering. This is simply a lot, but there is inactive a large number of people who can be encouraged to do this – he emphasizes in an interview with Newseria Katarzyna Nowakowska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.
The remainder of the text is under movie material
According to the survey of the National investigation Panel of Ariadne, prepared for last year's planet Volunteer Day (5 December), all 3rd Pole has experience in volunteering. The most common form of aid is working for a peculiar individual (14%) and volunteering in foundations (12%). Regularity inactive remains a challenge: 63 percent of volunteers aid respective times a year and all 10 times a week.
“Surely volunteering is part of building a community, trust between people and the feeling that we can number on each another in crises,” says the Deputy Minister. – It is definitely a tool for building social capital, strengthening trust and building local communities.
As he emphasises, it is peculiarly crucial present to work in local communities, where aid reaches the fastest and most effective.
Benefits of engaging in volunteering
The Noble Package study "Volunteer that Opens Eyes" underlines that helping besides benefits volunteers themselves. Participation in the programs increases sense, teaches a look at the needs of others and builds empathy. Volunteers declare that this experience allows you to revalue your life and deal with everyday problems more easily. In many cases, participation in action besides results in increased satisfaction with life and a sense of perpetuity.
– What makes people want to get active is being needed and showing that I have influence, I can do something good. This gives tremendous satisfaction with its social contribution, but besides with doing good – emphasises Katarzyna Przewozikowska, head of external communications & CSR in Żabka Group.
Increasing the popularity of worker volunteering
Companies introducing worker volunteering in Poland are increasing. A survey from Ariadne panel indicates that 10% of Poles are active in it. Especially younger people, aged 18-24 (17%).
“We received a clear signal from our employees that they would like to have an worker volunteering programme and be able to carry out long-term projects. Today, in recruitment talks – especially young workers – they ask directly: do you carry out work volunteering due to the fact that we want to work in a company that is active in social assistance, says Katarzyna Przewozikowska. – In our programme each of the employees has 8 hours a month, which can be allocated to participation in selected volunteer action. He can choose it himself or take part in the action we organize in the company. Last year we completed about a 1000 hours of worker volunteering.
One of the actions carried out by the Żabka network is the “Pack with Smile”, in which volunteers in cooperation with the Poznań police officers prepare Christmas packages for children staying in hospitals. This year, 650 were prepared.
“The implementation group of the Municipal Police office in Poznań, i.e. police officers who halt the most dangerous criminals, is organizing a charity for children from Poznań hospitals for the 5th time. The action has already permanently entered our yearly calendar. It's a unique time for us, full of emotions and emotions, erstwhile we put aside our regular work to get the reward of smiling and grateful children in hospitals," he says. horseshoes. Łukasz Paterski, Press Officer of the Municipal Police office in Poznań.
Cooperation of sectors and improvement of competence volunteering
Such initiatives show that volunteering has become a space where completely different environments and sectors meet – service officers, company workers, residents and local institutions. Police officials emphasize that joint actions not only aid the youngest patients in hospitals, but besides strengthen relations with residents and build assurance in the services. Companies see, in turn, that worker participation in social activities improves the atmosphere in teams, increases motivation and gives a sense of meaning, which many workers are looking for today.
“Police officers are very keen to participate in specified initiatives, it unites them as a squad from the inside. They organize specified collections after hours of work and then get affirmative feedback and it drives them – he says horseshoes. Łukasz Paterski. – Definitely the desire to participate in volunteering, actions, campaigns, charity initiatives is expanding all year.
Competency volunteering is besides becoming increasingly popular, in which workers usage their skills to support social organisations.
– Competences are frequently much more crucial than financial contributions. I will give an example: NGOs, which are frequently underfunded or having problem getting funds, creating a business plan, with a marketing campaign, very frequently benefit from the aid of companies, with the aid of experts who do this all day. This shows that present the competences I have in my professional life may be crucial to individual and I can share my experience. This surely affects the improvement of these foundations," he says Katarzyna Przewozikowska.
Planned systemic changes and state support
Systemic solutions and clear principles of support for social organisations are besides needed for volunteering to develop. The government is presently working on their work. The household hotel announces that the next step in strengthening the sector will be to improve the legal framework and make local volunteering centres.
– Supporting volunteering is simply a very crucial task and a large responsibility. Most of this work rests at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, where Secretary of State Adriana Porowska liable for the improvement and support of civilian society. Currently, KPRM and the Minister are working on amending the Public Benefit Act. Good law is simply a good condition for volunteering to be carried out simply – explains Katarzyna Nowakowska. - We keep our fingers crossed for this amendment. We besides support it thanks to the Department of Social Economics, which established permanent cooperation with KPRM in this area.
Source: Newseria
