Volunteer experiences in a non-profit organisation

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On a global scale, there are substantial studies about volunteerism. However, literature on volunteerism in South Africa, especially qualitative studies, is limited. The limited literature in South Africa does, however, suggest differences between Northern and Southern global contexts in terms of motivation for volunteering. In order to further build the South African literature in this area, this study explored the experiences of volunteers in a Stellenbosch based NPO. Their experiences encapsulate their motivations, challenges, and benefits of volunteering in their role as mentors to marginalised youth in this area. An overarching developmental framework was utilised to understand the volunteers’ motivations, and supplementary perspectives (Role-ID theory; citizenship and mentoring) were used to explore and contextualise their experiences. Within this framework, a qualitative methodology was employed to explore, gather, describe, and interpret the data. Two group interviews with 5 participants each were conducted. This was supplemented by 3 individual interviews. An interpretive phenomenological analytical approach was used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that other-oriented motivations, citizenship, sense of belonging, social exchange, self-enhancement, positive role model identity, improved personal and familial relations, wilderness solo experience, personal satisfaction and reward in seeing the fruit of their labour were some of the significant themes that emerged for volunteers from their volunteer experience. The main challenge they faced was that of transport mobility to keep mentor appointments. The implications of the findings for South African perspectives on volunteering are discussed.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwyd is daar navorsing gedoen oor vrywillige werk. Die literatuur is nietemin in hierdie vakgebied beperk, veral met betrekking tot kwalitatiewe studies in die Suid Afrikaanse konteks. Die Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur wat wel bestaan dui daarop aan dat daar sommige verskille bestaan tussen navorsing wat in die globale Noorde en Suide gedoen is. Die verskil is die van vrywillige werkers se motiverings om vrywillige werk te doen. Om Suid Afrikaanse navorsing in die gebied te versterk, fokus hierdie studie op die ervaringe van vrywillige werkers by ‘n nie-staat/regerings organisasie in Stellenbosch, Wes-Kaap. Hul ervaringe bestaan uit hul motiverings, uitdagings, en wat hulle beskou as voordele van hul rolle as mentors vir gemarginaliseerde jeug in die omgewing. ‘n Oorkoepelende ontwikkelingraamwerk was benut, om die motivering van vrywilligers en die aanvullende perspektiewe (burgerskap, mentorskap en identiteits-rol teorie) te verstaan en ook om verder hul ervaringe te verken en te kontekstualiseer. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie is binne hierdie raamwerk gebruik om data te verken, versamel, beskryf, en te interpreteer. Twee groeps onderhoude van vyf deelnemers elk, was uitgevoer. Dit was verder aangevul met drie individuele onderhoude. ‘n Interpreterende fenomenologiese analitiese benadering was benut om die data te analiseer. Bevindings het die navorsing in hierdie gebied weerspiëel. Ander-georiënteerde motiverings, burgerskap, aanvaarding, sosiale uitruiling, self-verbetering, positiewe rol-model identiteit, en verbeterde persoonlike- en gesinsverhoudings, wildernis alleen ervaringe, persoonlike bevrediging, en om die ‘beloning’ te sien van hul harde werk, was sommige van die beduidende temas wat na vore gekom het. Die een groot probleem wat vrywilligers ervaar het, was die van toeganklikheid van vervoer om hul mentorskap afsprake na te kom. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir Suid Afrikaanse perspektiewe op die gebied word bespreek