Volunteerism and Working with Volunteers
Strengthening Institutionalization in Volunteering: Volunteer Programs
Belgin ErgülNGOs are an institutionalized structure of civil society. Volunteers who act on the principle of active citizenship in order to improve the relationship and trust levels of those living in a society have the most important share in the development of social and cultural wealth. At the same time, they are also part of community building and community empowerment strategies. Volunteers, institutions, and NGOs maintain their existence dependent on one another. Institutionalism needs to be strengthened for the sustainability of volunteerism in various institutions, especially NGOs. Volunteer programs and the budget required to establish these programs are needed in order to strengthen institutionalism. Examining which systems and structures social benefit can be created in conjunction with volunteers both by civil society and the private as well as public sectors has become necessary. This section discusses the relationship between volunteerism and programs; it firstly introduces civil society while mentioning active citizenship and volunteer psychology, then explains the concept of sustainability, being a main objective of volunteering and aims to understand volunteer programs both in terms of civil society and institutions. The current situation and headings that need to be performed with regard to volunteerism are evaluated throughout the chapter in this context over the issues of communication management and motivation, which are important for every institution, while also emphasizing careers in civil society. The attempt is made to explain national and international participation by mapping it out over the concept of volunteer rights. What institutions need is analyzed through this perspective. This chapter assesses answers to questions such as who is doing what, which approaches are exhibited, what are the sub-headings and models regarding these, and, most importantly, how can sustainable volunteering be achieved by taking the path alongside volunteers.