Image of Volunteering
The Role of Volunteers in Co-Producing ‘Whole-of-Society’ Solutions
Article reviewed: Mamuji, A., Kenny, C., & Ahmed, S. (2021). Co-production Through Volunteerism in Emergency Management: Drawing Lessons from Canada’s Syrian Refugee Resettlement Initiative. Canadian Journal of Emergency Management 1 (1), 40-65. Available at: https://cdnjem.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CJEM-v1n1-Mamuji-Kenny-Ahmed.-Co-production-through-volunteerism.pdf
e-Volunteerism’s Co-Founder Reflects On A Shared Vision
One of the interesting things about getting older is that memories become a bit more elastic and you find yourself thinking about things that you have experienced and realize that they occurred an age or so ago.
Good and Bad: Musings on the Complexities and Nuances of Volunteering in Real Life
Volunteers can make the world a better place - but it behoves us to ask the question, "Better for whom?" In this Points of View, Rob Jackson and Erin R. Spink put this question front and center by challenging leaders of volunteer engagement to look at volunteering in real life from every conceivable angle. Jackson and Spink boldly note that “volunteering is not simply a nice thing to do: volunteers are directly shaping the world with their choices and actions.” As they write:
It would be naïve to proclaim that volunteering is always objectively good. The socially acceptable view of volunteering being for the greater good isn't wrong per se, but it has never demonstrated a true understanding of the complexities and nuances of volunteering in real life. In today's world, this overly simplistic conceptualization is actually a hindrance to understanding the power of volunteers and why our role as leaders of volunteer engagement is so critical.
Showcasing Innovation in Volunteer Programs: Videos from Points of Light
At a recent Points of Light conference, a plenary session included short videos from volunteer programs around the world that showcased innovation in volunteer programs. Voices co-editor Allyson Drinnon found the videos inspiring, and gained permission to present a sampling of three videos for e-Volunteerism. These videos, along with Drinnon’s insightful narrative, clearly reveal why the terms “innovation” and “inspiring” are connected with these works.