Volunteering Advantages and Difficulties in Romania

Abstract

Besides highlighting the reasons for volunteering, its advantages and difficulties, from the previous studies and from the Romanian legislative framework, we tried to understand, through a qualitative study based on a focus group with volunteers, what their perspective is about benefits, reasons, and obstacles involved in carrying out volunteering activities and what opportunities for improvement they see in order to increase involvement of young people in these activities. The results show that most often, personal values are the motivational leverage for volunteering and that the projection of dysfunctions and hindrance are largely oriented towards host organizations for volunteers Who are not prepared to value and organize this human resource. At the same time, our research provides us with a lever towards the necessary and desirable change, in order to increase volunteers' motivation and keep them involved.