Entscheidungsfindung für einen internationalen Freiwilligendienst – Welche Rolle spielen soziale Herkunft und Bildungsverlauf der Freiwilligen?

Henrike Genzel & Anja Franz: Decision Making for a Long Term International Voluntary Service – Which Role Do Social and Educational Background Play?): The article attempts to reveal differences in the decision process for a long term international voluntary service. Those differences are analyzed with regards to the social, as well as the educational background, of the people making the decisions. The findings are discussed in view of rational choice theories based on Boudon (1974). Guided interviews with future or former “traditional” and “non-traditional” volunteers from the organization “Aktion Sühnezeichen e.V.” are used as data basis. The results show that the motivation, as well as the decision process, are influenced by the individual access to voluntary services. “Non-traditional” volunteers often structure their decisions based on occasions whereas the “traditional” volunteer’s decision are mostly shaped by rational arguments. Financial costs and an inflexible flow of information are identified as structural barriers.

A Meaningful Break in a Flat Life

International Voluntary Service (IVS) is slowly becoming more popular as more and more people take breaks from their studies or careers to volunteer abroad. However, research on the motivation of volunteers is quite limited and mainly conducted by means of qualitative methods. This study attempts to analyze the motivations that prompt people to serve internationally. I used the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) plus some items that refer to specific motives gathered from literature. The results show multiple and mixed motivations that, according to the correlational analysis, can be grouped into two motivational patterns, one “outward focused” and the other “inward focused.” These patterns are variously associated with some perceived facets of the experience abroad. Finally, the importance of understanding the various motivations and how matching them to the sending program might enhance volunteer satisfaction is discussed.

The Global Dynamics of Gender and Philanthropy in Membership Associations

This study investigates how women influence charitable giving in a large, international voluntary service organization—Lions Clubs International (LCI). Data were collected from a survey of Lions clubs members in 14 countries to assess the impact of both micro- and macro-level factors on charitable giving. Probit and Tobit models are used to determine the probability of giving as well as the amount of money donated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Results indicate that belonging to a club where at least half of the members are female and where we see an increase in the percent growth in female membership in the respondent’s country are associated with both a greater likelihood of donating as well as giving more to this international service club. Findings from our study have direct implications for voluntary service organizations, particularly with regard to issues of organizational culture, as more service organizations recruit female members.