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Warsaw, Poland | 24 September 2012 Polish Active Aging Conference VOLUNTEERING: THE REAL SECRET TO A HAPPY OLD AGE? LESTER M. SALAMON Johns Hopkins University
Warsaw, Poland | 24 September 2012 Polish Active Aging
Conference
VOLUNTEERING: THE REAL SECRET TO A HAPPY OLD AGE?
LESTER M. SALAMON
Johns Hopkins University
1. An enormous “RENEWABLE RESOURCE” for
societal problem-solving.
DOES VOLUNTEERING COUNT?
IF VOLUNTEERS WERE A NATION…
971.0 VOLUNTEERLAND
92.8
101.3
109.4
121.6
127.7
162.4
239.7
756.5
1,023.5
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Japan
Russian Federation
Brazil
Indonesia
United States
India
China
Millions of people 15 years or older
“VOLUNTEERLAND”—THE WORLD’S SECOND MOST POPULOUS NATION
IF VOLUNTEERS WERE A NATION…
1,348 VOLUNTEERLAND
1,097
1,130
1,134
1,457
2,280
2,303
3,329
4,229
12,580
Italy
Spain
Canada
France
United Kingdom
China
Germany
Japan
United States
“VOLUNTEERLAND”—THE WORLD’S 7TH LARGEST ECONOMY
US$ billions, 2005
IF VOLUNTEERS WERE A NATION…
Volunteer input
as a share of
total private
philanthropy,
36 countries Value of
volunteering,
68%
Charitable
giving,
32%
WHY MEASURE VOLUNTEERING?
Source: Salamon et.al., Global Civil Society, Kumarian, 2004.
ECONOMIC CAPITAL: financial resources
PHYSICAL CAPITAL: equipment, services
HUMAN CAPITAL: skills, attitudes
SOCIAL CAPITAL: SOCIAL RESOURCES/TRUST
VOLUNTEERING’S IMPACT?
1. An enormous “renewable resource” for societal
problem-solving.
2. Affects volunteers and not just beneficiaries..
3. Particularly affects elderly volunteers.
WHY BE CONCERNED WITH VOLUNTEERING?
OPRAH WINFREY’s recipe for successful aging:
“Something to do”
“Something to look forward to”
“Someone to love”
VOLUNTEERING AND ACTIVE AGING
Psychologist Edmund Sanford, 1902:
“The real secret of a happy old age is being once
more in service for others on to the end of life…”
VOLUNTEERING AND AGING
2008 Study: “OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE
IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERING ON HEALTH”
Volunteers are happier
Volunteers are physically healthier
Volunteers are less depressed
Volunteers live longer
VOLUNTEERING AND AGING
Source: Cassidy 2008; CNCS 2007
Positive effects of volunteering are GREATER
FOR OLDER PEOPLE than younger people
Holds for mental health
Holds for physical functioning
Holds for life satisfaction
Holds for perceived health
WHY?
VOLUNTEERING AND AGING
Source: Cassidy 2008; CNCS 2007
Volunteering REPLACES LOST ROLES as
wage-earners and parents
Provides a sense of purpose
Enhances social networks
Creates a sense of belonging
Enhances self-esteem
Increases access to social support
VOLUNTEERING AND AGING
Source: Cassidy 2008; CNCS 2007
Older persons value volunteering more than younger persons
63%
Contributed to sense of
personal worth 79% 85%
Meet people and make friends
Gets me out of myself 57%
Makes me feel needed
84% 91%
82%
76%
Volunteering’s impact 55-64 years old 65+ years old
VOLUNTEERING AND AGING
STATE OF VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND
Volunteering
rate in Poland
seems on
a par with other
countries…
45.0%
26.8%
Canada
United States
≈ 30.0% POLAND
Percent of adult population volunteering
Source: Central Statistical Office of Poland, 2011
26% POLAND
Direct volunteering
STATE OF VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND
…but the
Poland rate
includes direct
volunteering,
which
dominates.
Percent of adult population volunteering
Source: Central Statistical Office of Poland, 2011
45.0%
26.8%
Canada
United States
10%
Organization-based
POLAND
0.3%
0.3%
0.4%
0.4%
0.4%
0.9%
1.3%
1.5%
1.5%
1.6%
1.6% 1.7%
1.8%
2.0%
2.6%
3.2%
3.4%
3.4%
5.0%
6.4%
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Romania
Russia
India
Portugal
Tanzania
Uganda
Israel
Mexico
Colombia
Korea, Rep. of
Spain
South Africa
United States
Germany
France
Norway
United Kingdom
STATE OF VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND
Volunteers as a percent of total employment, Poland vs. select countries, ca. 2000-2008
Source: Johns Hopkins Center For Civil Society Studies
2.6% 43-COUNTRY AVERAGE
POLAND 1.6%
POLAND
0:15
Lithuania Estonia Latvia Finland Italy United
Kingdom Spain Germany France Sweden Slovenia Norway Bulgaria
0:13 0:13
0:11 0:11
0:10
0:09 0:09 0:09 0:09
0:08 0:08 0:08 0:08
STATE OF VOLUNTEERING IN POLAND
Average minutes spent in “informal help to other households,”
Harmonized European Time Use Survey, ca. late 1990s
Source: Statistics Sweden, 2000
Ave
rage
min
utes
spe
nt o
n vo
lunt
eer
wor
k
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLAND
Boost organizational volunteering by elderly
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLAND
Source: Volunteering in America, 2011, Corporation for National and Community Service
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLAND
Boost organizational volunteering by elderly
Strengthen civil society organizations
27%
57%
8%
8%
PAID STAFF
VOLUNTEERS
Above average
Below average
Below
average
Above
average
CIVIL SOCIETY PAID VS. VOLUNTEER STAFF
(37 COUNTRIES)
Boost organizational volunteering by elderly
Strengthen civil society organizations
Maintain volunteer measurement
Emphasize value of volunteering for Active Aging
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLAND
email:
websites:
volunteermeasurement.org ccss.jhu.edu
twitter:
@jhuccss
CONTACT US!
