The Youth Research Centre (YRC) of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) today (24 September) announces the results of a survey undertaken among 1,082 local young people, titled “Good Deeds: Encouraging Youth People to Volunteer”. Consisting of an online questionnaire conducted from 12 to 22 July, 20 case studies and 7 focus group interviews with youth workers with extensive volunteer experience, the study surveyed a total of 1,082 HKFYG members aged 15 to 34.
Turning small actions into big changes
Volunteering and assisting others with selfless dedication play a crucial role in the ongoing development of society. When young individuals engage in these activities, they exhibit a sense of responsibility towards their community, fostering personal growth and the enhancement of valuable skills, both personally and professionally. As societal norms shift and lifestyles evolve, the expectations and motivations of young volunteers have also changed. This study seeks to unveil the factors that inspire young people to volunteer.
show interest to voluntary work
respondents agree that “volunteering plays a pivotal part in personal growth”
surveyed youth participated in voluntary work before
Main Findings
- Attitude towards voluntary work
- Participation status
- Preferred volunteer participation model
- Expectations regarding voluntary work
- Key elements to sustain youth involvemen
- Doing good is often a reciprocal act
- 89.1% of respondents agree that “volunteering plays a pivotal part in personal growth” and 86.0% express interest in volunteer work, rating their level of interest with a mean score of 7.18 on a 0-to-10 point scale
- Among those with prior volunteer experience, 45.2% haven’t participated in volunteer work over the last 12 months; 78.0% cited “time constraints” as the primary barrier to participation
- 39.6% of respondents favour flexible volunteer options, especially appealing to youth who have not engaged in voluntary work in the past 12 months or have never done so; 80.2% agree that volunteering “anytime, anywhere” can spur interest
- 87.6% think that “volunteering can be a part of life and a way of life”, reflecting a flexible and lifestyle-oriented model, agile and convenient actions help encourage youth participation and enable young people to help others anytime, anywhere.
- To maintain the continuity of service among youth, providing diverse volunteer options, financial incentives, volunteer management, and a pathway for volunteer development play an encouraging role. Regardless of the form of participation, it all begins with good intentions.
- Among those who have received help, 96.9% have given back by engaging in volunteer service; doing good can not only support those in need, but also create a virtuous cycle within the community.
Suggestion
Encouraging youth to Care for those around them, translating their caring thoughts into Contributing anytime, anywhere, to cultivate a Culture of kindness in daily life.
- Experience
- Enhancement
- Enablement
By leveraging technology to establish an all-in-one platform for volunteer registration, matching, and learning, we can enhance participation motivation and lower the barriers for youth to sign up for volunteer services. Additionally, through comprehensive volunteer management, the creation of diverse service opportunities, as well as commendations and rewards, we can address the needs and expectations of youth towards volunteer service. This approach allows each young person to find a suitable way to participate based on their individual time and interests. This optimization aims to enhance the youth's volunteering experience, improve service effectiveness, and achieve a triple-win goal for the beneficiaries, organizations, and the volunteers themselves.
Photos
Easy Good Deeds
With easily achievable goals, new motivating forces and participation pathways, the HKFYG hopes to sow seeds of kindness and ignite a passion for volunteering. Upon completing all 10 good acts within October to December 2024, participants can redeem designated interest classes or workshops as rewards.