Volunteering as a part of professional development of the students of ZSF JCU

Volunteering is currently establishing its place in the life of the general public in the Czech Republic. More and more students take part in volunteering programs. Volunteering has many positive sides for the organizations that involve volunteers in their activities as well as for their clients and it enriches the lives of volunteers themselves. In the theoretical part of her work the author describes volunteering in the Czech Republic in the past and present. She investigates volunteering, the preparation of volunteers, their professional preparation during their studies and their supervision at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. The aim of the work is to map out the influence of active volunteering on the professional lives of the students of ZSF JU (Health and Social Department, University of South Bohemia). The next aim is to establish what students know about the possibilities of volunteering, what percentage of students are active volunteers and if they relate volunteering to their professional development. The research method was asking questions, the technique was a questionnaire and a managed interview. The respondents were students of full-time studies at ZSF JU studying the following subjects: Rehabilitation and Psycho Social Care of Handicapped Children, Adults and Old Age People (both bachelor and master studies) and Prevention and Rehabilitation of Social Pathology. The results of the research show that students are aware of the positive influence of volunteering on their professional development. They know the benefits of volunteering with regards to using knowledge obtained at school, learning new procedures and gaining new knowledge. The hypothesis ``Students of ZSF JU are not aware of benefits of volunteering for their professional development{\crqq} was rejected. The hypothesis ``Taking part in volunteering programs helps students gain new skills{\crqq} was proved. The results of the research can be used as information and study material for the support of volunteering at and outside of ZSF JU. It can also help raise awareness of individual programs at ZSF JU and on the opportunities volunteering gives students