THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
Joining volunteer programs can be a personal choice or sometimes a requirement in school or work. But whatever the reason in joining volunteer organizations, it is generally a good thing to experience because not only can it benefit volunteers as an individual, it can greatly make a difference in the world. For some, joining a volunteer program may perhaps be a small, individual act, but when all individual acts of kindness and volunteerism are put together, it creates a big impact on society. This is especially true in nation-building and a country’s economy. Find out in this article the economic benefits of volunteering.
Volunteerism in Malaysia: Fostering prosocial behaviour and attitudes
Throughout history, volunteers act as a source of help and support for individuals, families, services, and institutions up to this day. This altruistic help and support for communities has played and continues to play an important role in the development of Malaysia since pro-social behaviours and attitudes are fostered in volunteer programs. These pro-social behaviours and attitudes such as mutual tolerance based on ethnicity, culture, and religion and respect for human rights, coexistence, and solidarity create an empowered and stable society.
Because of this, efforts in encouraging people to join volunteer programs have taken place in Malaysia which are mostly directed to the youth. In Volunteerism: Expanding the Frontiers of Youth Development, a book published by Dr. Suandi observed that young people are often underutilized, overlooked, alienated, and marginalized in many community programs. He surmised that instead of viewing them as a complex group, they must be seen as potential active participants in development initiatives. He states, “Youth volunteering is one of the means to nurture the spirit of responsible citizenship. Volunteering motivates young people to continue to get involved in community-oriented volunteer activities even when they become adults. The combination of action and reflection in youth volunteer programs increases the socializing impact of voluntary work.”
Volunteering helps in Nation-building
Community development is an important aspect of nation-building. This is why volunteering is so important because volunteers enter into various social environments and engage with people living in different social circumstances that expose them to the basic needs of the community. They are able to develop tolerance and respect for each other. In addition, when volunteers, especially the youth, are exposed to building shelter, feeding the less fortunate, or educating those who cannot afford an education, they understand its importance to a community that can advance the economy. Volunteers then identify the lapses and how this can be improved to ensure that the basic needs of a community are received for the successful development of an economy.
Building strong social connections is also one of the benefits of volunteering. Since volunteering gives the opportunity to meet and interact with new people from different sectors, volunteers broaden their network as they enhance and develop their social skills. In fact, this has been one of the common reasons for joining volunteer programs. In a study entitled, Understanding the reasons for Malaysian Youth Participation in Volunteering Activities, they found that “volunteering activities also helped in unleashing leadership skills; molding good values; providing opportunities to increase social capital; enlarging the social circle; help problem-solving; boosting self-confidence; increasing happiness and enhancing a sense of belonging.”
In our previous article, we discussed how volunteering connects volunteers to others and how volunteering can help advance their careers. We brought up that volunteering is one of the best ways to expand social networks while creating a positive impact on the community. In addition, volunteering can help volunteers advance their careers since volunteering allows people to try out new careers and learn the ropes of the industry. It helps the youth boost their employability, forge new friendships, develop new contacts, create social networks of trust and cooperation, receive more appreciation, fulfill religious requirements, support corporate social responsibility and contribute to government development policies.
Volunteering can create a
sound environment for investment
A stable country attracts foreign investors to invest in a country. By joining volunteer programs that focus on building cohesive, safer, stronger communities, volunteerism creates a sound environment for investment locally and internationally. This can be attributed to having a united, pro-social behaviour and attitude fostered by volunteering which keeps Malaysians away from social vices. As volunteer organizations continue developing communities and the youth, Malaysian safeguards Malaysia’s culture, its future, and economic growth. Whether an individual formally volunteers with an organization or informally lends a helping hand to a neighbor or person in need, these combined acts are powerful forces that help shape a sense of identity as Malaysians.
Volunteering can help reduce
costs in a national level
There are so many ways volunteering can help reduce costs. For instance, with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz releasing the distribution of the 2021 Budget, it is shown that RM520 is allotted for environmental expenditures. The budget is distributed as follows:
- RM50 million to clean rivers of rubbish and waste
- RM40 million to strengthen enforcement and monitoring activities
- RM10 million for island waste management projects in Johor and Terengganu
- RM400 million for the preservation of natural resources through the TAHAP initiative
- RM20 million for the hiring of 500 former soldiers and police, as well as Orang Asli, to patrol forests
When we mobilize our volunteer programs and utilize our volunteers to clean rivers of rubbish and waste, that would already entail RM50 million savings for the environmental budget.
CONCLUSION
It is no secret that volunteering has many benefits for an individual and the country. Aside from expanding social connections and the opportunity to acquire new skills, volunteerism positively impacts communities and even reduces costs for a country. It is true that when all simple acts of kindness are combined, we create a great positive impact in the world.