Youth Volunteerism in Accra: Motivations, Benefits, and Constraints

Abstract

Volunteerism has been touted globally as one of the tools for involving the youth in development processes especially in the wake of dwindling public expenditure on public services and public sector employment. Despite the global support and advocacy, volunteerism has received less attention among scholars and policymakers in Ghana. This study seeks to contribute in this regard by exploring; factors that motivate young people to volunteer, benefits they seek to derive volunteering as well as constraints that influence or prohibit participation in volunteer work. The study adopted a mixed-method approach using surveys and interviews. 351 young people were recruited constituting; 228 volunteers and 103 non-volunteers through surveys and 20 participants; 13 volunteers, 4 non-volunteers and 3 key informants. The findings show that young people saw volunteer work as an opportunity to ‘while away time’ while waiting for a permanent job. Other motivation factors included altruism, the desire to create change, contribution to development, acquisition of new skills, building career portfolios. For benefits, volunteers recounted factors such as personal development, social capital acquisition, and psychological gains including overcoming fear and low esteem as well as ease of boredom. Constraints are said to either inhibit volunteering or influence the volunteering experience and satisfaction. Three forms of constraints emerged from the study. These include Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Structural. Interpersonal and structural constraints were reported by both volunteers and non-volunteers while intrapersonal constraints were peculiar to only non-volunteers. It is concluded that young people in Ghana volunteer for a myriad of reasons tied to their interest and expectation. Volunteers attribute benefits to their volunteering endeavors when their expectations are met. The cost of volunteering and inadequate information on volunteer work are major constraints to be summonted in efforts to encourage volunteering culture in Ghana.