Dr. Bahaa Helmy writes: Volunteer Work Between Culture and Practice

A member of the board of directors of an entity working in the field of volunteer work became angry when a member of the community that the volunteering targets asked the board to explain what measures had been taken to address a problem affecting his interests and those of others, insisting that the matter be clear and transparent. The volunteer expressed his intense anger and his conviction that no one had the right to question him or hold him accountable as long as his board was providing its services on a voluntary basis.

Herein lies the problem of understanding the culture of volunteer work and practising it on the ground, in addition to understanding the legal and practical culture surrounding the various aspects of volunteer work. A lack of awareness of this culture, in most cases, leads to the destruction of the foundations of genuine participation in community development, and can go as far as accountability if there has been a violation of the law.

Failing to grasp the lofty meanings of the concepts and objectives of volunteer work leads to a complete lack of vision regarding its gains and benefits, which accrue to the volunteer and to society alike.

The value, nobility and ethics of volunteer work lie in an individual carrying out a useful and beneficial activity for society of his own accord, without being assigned or ordered to do so, as a form of social service and a useful means of developing the volunteer's personality as well as fostering a spirit of community participation. Participation should be effective, solving problems, providing care, and supporting cooperation and cohesion among individuals in the field of volunteer work, while striving to achieve humanitarian goals by meeting people's needs and responding to them.

Volunteer work is a legal activity, both in terms of the manner in which it is performed and the commitment to the legal rules and regulations governing it, and in terms of duties, responsibilities and rights, in addition to the general commitment to constitutional values and principles, which require respect for human dignity and freedom of expression, the promotion of equality, and that knowledge and science be the starting point and the method of work for achieving the public good.

Volunteer work also aims to develop a spirit of participation, to confront negative outcomes and discuss them with clarity and transparency, and to work on turning them into positives through the concerted efforts of all and cooperation to find the best possible solutions.

When speaking with one young role model in volunteer work about the culture of volunteering and the problems of practising it on the ground, he shared his personal experience through the steps he followed before engaging in volunteer work. These steps relied on studying and becoming familiar with the culture of volunteer work, its concept, its duties, responsibilities and rights, and all aspects of work in the field of volunteering. This came after reviewing and evaluating himself and his own abilities to determine the extent of his belief in volunteer work founded on the values of giving and sacrifice, and to determine his capacity and sense of responsibility to absorb constructive criticism, accept other opinions, and deal with everyone in accordance with the legal and ethical approach imposed by the Constitution, legislation and the values of a democratic society. He regarded these steps as the energy of knowledge that lit his way in volunteer work, because if he ever became impatient with the responsibilities of volunteer work, he would have to withdraw in order to reassess the extent of his knowledge and understanding of the culture of volunteer work and his ability to bear its responsibilities.

There is no doubt that practising volunteer work on the ground is fraught with many problems, especially when there is no harmony between the volunteer's motives and the concept, dimensions and responsibilities of volunteer work.

Volunteer work means serving society with humility and tolerance and adhering to the rules governing the work, without arrogance, dictation or high-handedness in opinion. Volunteer work, in its proper sense, is entirely different from the desire to join a volunteer activity in order to obtain compensation or to achieve personal goals or interests. Pure volunteer work means devoting effort to serving society, self-denial, and engaging with the questions and needs of the community that the volunteer work concerns, as well as accepting responsibility for what has or has not been accomplished within the framework of the work, responsibilities and performance of the competent board of directors.