By Evangelia Petsa,
Contemporary society, facing many contradictions and living in the framework of reorganizations, produces pathologies and experiences many problems that mainly affect vulnerable social groups. Every day we receive stormy images of human violence and human pain. Such a situation undermines individual well-being and also social cohesion and threatens the maintenance of the welfare state. Therefore it is appropriate to demonstrate that organized voluntary action is a strong response to these contemporary problems and is deemed necessary for the following reasons.
First of all for reasons related to the characteristics of contemporary society. The deification of money and the existence of economic interests lead to the predominance of the right of the fist. In this context, conditions of social inequality are created with the result that social groups are marginalized. In fact, as far as our country is concerned, the prolonged economic recession makes the situation difficult for the non-privileged groups, exacerbating the problems of poverty and impoverishment of a significant part of the population. On the other hand, the modern man who has turned to material goods and has given them superiority has lost his spirituality. Thus he is led to moral expropriation, he distances himself from social events, or in other cases he is unable to claim his rights, leaving room for arbitrariness. That’s why volunteering gives meaning to life.
In parallel, a new reality has been formed both in our country and in the global community. The impoverished refugees who arrive day by day in our country but also in the whole of Europe give rise to feelings of humanity and solidarity. Their physical and mainly mental impoverishment does not leave us unmoved, a fact that our country has already proven. Even the dysfunction of the state agencies and the daily human pain make the offer of voluntary action imperative. The inability and in some cases the indifference of the political leadership towards such phenomena leads social welfare services such as nursing homes and orphanages to seek the support of volunteers who will offer help to those who need it. The limited and sometimes non-existent expenditures in sectors such as health, and support for the unemployed and homeless people, are compensated by the action of voluntary organizations.
However, voluntary action which can be carried out in many ways such as the provision of material goods, offer of work in institutions, health care, and blood donation will bring positive results.
As for the individuals who receive the benefits of volunteering, the benefits vary. First of all, they face issues of vital importance that are directly related to their standard of living which by extension also improves their quality of life. In cases of marginalized individuals, their smooth integration into the social whole is achieved. Thus, their self-esteem and self-confidence are boosted and they feel that in society there are people who feel their passion and contribute to its treatment. Next is to face life with ambition, to recover their creativity, and to become active members of society.
As for the individuals who indulge in volunteering, the usefulness is a given as well as for the social whole. It leads to their internal integration and the evolution of society from individualistic to a society of solidarity. Beyond the fact that it is a constructive use of free time, the offer helps to protect physical and mental health. It helps reduce stress, fight depression, keeps them mentally alert, and gives them a sense of purpose. Volunteering helps them feel better about themselves and this reinforces the positive way they view their life, the world, and their future goals. At the same time, volunteering has an educational function as it enhances the acquisition of social and professional skills that are necessary for life in the future. Especially for young people, by participating in voluntary solidarity organizations, their energy, their creative imagination are being used and the concept of cooperation is promoted, which is the antidote to the increased competition that prevails in the contemporary era.
In conclusion, we could say that voluntary action towards the people who need help and support will result in the upgrading of society and the projection of human value by providing quality of life given the social crisis of our time.
References
- What is volunteerism. californiavolunteers.org. Available here
- Volunteerism. knowledge.unv.org. Available here
