STATUS OF VOLUNTEERISM AMONG THE STAKEHOLDERS OF SOCIAL PROJECTS IN BATTICALOA DISTRICT: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

Volunteer engagement is currently declining relative to the beginning due to both internal and external causes, but there is still active volunteerism. This study brings together volunteers and staff of NGOs which are based in Batticaloa district. Hence, the aims of this study to explore the nature of community volunteer participation in the NGOs participatory social projects, explore the factors affecting community volunteer participation in the NGOs participatory social projects, possible benefits and challenges faced by community volunteer's while participating in the NGOs effective participatory social projects and recommend possible suggestions that can increase the participation level of community volunteers in NGO participatory social projects. To find out the involvement of volunteerism on social projects in NGOs the survey was carried out among the volunteers and NGOs staff of selected 5 NGOs in the Batticaloa district. It is an inductive study where the qualitative approach was undertaken, 20 volunteers and 05 NGO staffs were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method related to all participatory social projects initiated by the 05 NGOs based in Batticaloa. Collected data were analyzed using NVivo 10 through thematic analysis. Volunteering has, according to the results, made a significant contribution to the social initiative in NGOs. A good relationship is being established between volunteers and NGO staff as it has been developed. Further, factors such as expectations, unexpected situations, social responsibility, recognition, role models, and career were considered as the critical factors which indeed influence community volunteerism on social projects initiated by the NGOs. At the same time, the researcher found the benefits as well the challenges faced by the volunteers and the NGO staffs when involving in volunteer projects. Finally, the researcher proposed some strategies and mechanisms for policymakers to increase and improve the participation of volunteers in a social project initiated by NGOs