Editorial Introduction

In the following studies, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the resilience of communities and the formation of civic activism in Germany and the United Kingdom is analyzed and discussed. In the German study, the expected impact on existing volunteer organizations is explored. In the UK study, by analyzing quantitative data pertaining to (about the determinants of ) different categories of mutual aid groups (MAGs) interpretations are made concerning resilience, agility, and civic activist potentialities.

WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS

Background: Work engagement is defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. Even though volunteers at hospitals are deeply engaged in their unpaid work, there are no quick tools for measuring work engagement among these volunteers. The Ultra-short UWES-3 is a valuable research tool to measure engagement, indicating the need for its validation among volunteers. Several recent studies have explored the role of work engagement in volunteer work, mostly focusing on volunteers working in social and nonprofit settings. Little is known about how work engagement contributes to the well-being and quality of life of volunteers working in hospitals. Furthermore, in this context, the relationship between work engagement and burnout, referred to as a psychological syndrome of emotional exhaustion, is poorly understood. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the factor structure of the UWES-3, and to undercover possible associations between work engagement, well-being, quality of life, and burnout among volunteers. Methodology: This cross-sectional study collected self-reported anonymous data from adults connected to volunteer organizations in Guadalajara, Mexico. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the scale’s unidimensional structure. While well-being and quality of life were positively associated with work engagement, exhaustion showed the strongest negative relationship to work engagement. Discussion: Our results support the validity of the UWES-3 and suggest that work engagement contributes to well-being and quality of life, while exhaustion is negatively associated with work engagement. From a wider perspective, results from this study provide important insights to guide stakeholders, such as hospital administrators and volunteer organizations. Conclusions: Our findings support the validity of the UWES-3 among hospital volunteers, suggesting that the scale is an appropriate work engagement measure in this setting. This study provides a new understanding of the relationship between work engagement, burnout, and psychological variables among hospital volunteers.

The Role of Self-Compassion in the Job Demands-Resources Model, an Explorative Study among Crisis Line Volunteers

The job demands-resources (JD-R) model has hardly been studied in volunteer organizations and there is a scarcity of studies evaluating self-compassion as a personal resource within the JD-R model. The present study addresses these gaps in current knowledge, first by examining the applicability of the JD-R model in a crisis line volunteer organization. Second, self-compassion is examined, both in terms of its moderating role on the exhaustion process as well as its role on the motivation process. Structural equation modelling was used for the analyses. The influence on the organizational outcome ‘compassion towards others’ was examined using a multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the JD-R model has an acceptable fit on this sample and supports the central assumption that exhaustion and motivation are two independent but related processes. This study provides evidence that self-compassion is a valuable addition to the JD-R model, as it has an indirect effect on both processes, and increases the explained variance in compassion towards others by 7% through the exhaustion process and by 3% through the motivational process. These findings point to the importance of focusing on self-compassion in training and supervision in volunteer organizations.

Negócios sociais e âncoras de carreira: um estudo sobre o envolvimento dos estudantes universitários

Purpose: the objective of this study is to analyze the career anchors (Schein, 1974) of university students involved in social activities. Design/methodology/approach: we chose a quantitative descriptive approach, with the application of a questionnaire to 68 young students participating in the CHOICE ambassador program. Findings: results showed the predominance of the service and dedication to a cause anchor, and the relevance of acting in student and volunteer organizations. The career anchor acts as an influencing factor for the interest in social businesses, while previous involvement in other social activities (volunteering and student entities) seems to be the indicator that shows how much the individual will effectively move in the direction of social businesses. Originality/value: this result demonstrates the existing alignment between the search for a purpose and working in social businesses. Although the involvement in social activities is becoming increasingly present in university life, companies still do not know how to determine the value of these experiences. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of studying this phenomenon and bringing information that allows these barriers to break, after all, society increasingly needs new solutions to social problems.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

The article is devoted to the volunteer movement in the sphere of human rights protection and cooperation of volunteers with non-governmental human rights organizations. It is pointed out that due to the activization of civil society and the growing number of violations of human rights on the international arena, this issue needs to be studied in more detail. In order to study the nature of volunteer organizations, a retrospective historical analysis of the phenomenon of volunteering since its appearance has been conducted. Several directions of historical development of the volunteer movement are compared. In order to understand the role of volunteer movements in the protection of human rights, the definition of the concept is proposed and explained, their functions and features as well as the main directions of activity are singled out. The comparison of concepts, functions and roles of volunteer and non- governmental human rights organizations is made. Also, the definition of the concept of “non-governmental human rights organizations” is given, on the base of which the common features of the above elements of civil society are defined. Examples of state regulation of volunteering activities in European countries, as well as the activities of volunteers in the sphere of human rights protection and cooperation of the latter with non-governmental human rights organizations are analyzed. The importance of cooperation between volunteer organizations and NGOs is also emphasized, as well as the mutual benefit for these organizations.

Analysis of the Information Needs of Volunteers: the Results of Study

Volunteering is actively developing in the Russian Federation and around the world. Society that takes part in volunteer projects has a high level of civic identity, morality and forms humanistic values among young people. Volunteer movement is a tool to reduce the level of antisocial and extremist behaviour.Approximately 15% of the population of the Russian Federation is involved in volunteering activities at the present time. Thanks to the volunteer organizations created in educational institutions, the government creates positive image of a volunteer. At the same time, there is a problem of public distrust in this type of activity due to the lack of awareness of volunteer organizations and their projects. Organizers of the volunteer movement face the problem of lack of information about volunteering that entails the difficulties in setting goals and objectives of the volunteer organization. It is necessary to identify the information needs of volunteers, as well as to create an information field where they can meet these needs.There is no resource with comprehensive information about volunteering activity in Russia. Information needs of participants in such type of projects cannot be fully met. The main source of information is the portal “Volunteers of Russia”. It allows you to get e-book of a volunteer, register a volunteer organization, create an event and apply for participation in an existing project. However, the system has a number of factors that make it difficult to keep accurate records of volunteer activities; it is more designed to attract attention to projects.In 2018—2019, the study was conducted using the online survey (questionnaire). The survey involved volunteers (451 respondents) and their leaders (43 respondents) of the St. Petersburg Volunteer Movement “Our Future is in Our Hands”. The purpose of the study was to identify the information needs of volunteers and their managers. The survey results led to the conclusions: the availability of information resources on volunteering is not too high; the most interesting information is related to the experience of implementing volunteer activities, project development and management, the development of supra-professional skills. Volunteers prefer to use electronic documents.It is necessary to develop special programs and organize training courses on the formation of information culture of volunteers, to create a wider range of information resources for volunteers. One of the possibilities is to create a unified public resource that reflects different aspects of volunteering activities. It is important to form a comprehensive information support for volunteers.

Analysis of the Information Needs of Volunteers: the Results of Study

Volunteering is actively developing in the Russian Federation and around the world. Society that takes part in volunteer projects has a high level of civic identity, morality and forms humanistic values among young people. Volunteer movement is a tool to reduce the level of antisocial and extremist behaviour.Approximately 15% of the population of the Russian Federation is involved in volunteering activities at the present time. Thanks to the volunteer organizations created in educational institutions, the government creates positive image of a volunteer. At the same time, there is a problem of public distrust in this type of activity due to the lack of awareness of volunteer organizations and their projects. Organizers of the volunteer movement face the problem of lack of information about volunteering that entails the difficulties in setting goals and objectives of the volunteer organization. It is necessary to identify the information needs of volunteers, as well as to create an information field where they can meet these needs.There is no resource with comprehensive information about volunteering activity in Russia. Information needs of participants in such type of projects cannot be fully met. The main source of information is the portal “Volunteers of Russia”. It allows you to get e-book of a volunteer, register a volunteer organization, create an event and apply for participation in an existing project. However, the system has a number of factors that make it difficult to keep accurate records of volunteer activities; it is more designed to attract attention to projects.In 2018—2019, the study was conducted using the online survey (questionnaire). The survey involved volunteers (451 respondents) and their leaders (43 respondents) of the St. Petersburg Volunteer Movement “Our Future is in Our Hands”. The purpose of the study was to identify the information needs of volunteers and their managers. The survey results led to the conclusions: the availability of information resources on volunteering is not too high; the most interesting information is related to the experience of implementing volunteer activities, project development and management, the development of supra-professional skills. Volunteers prefer to use electronic documents.It is necessary to develop special programs and organize training courses on the formation of information culture of volunteers, to create a wider range of information resources for volunteers. One of the possibilities is to create a unified public resource that reflects different aspects of volunteering activities. It is important to form a comprehensive information support for volunteers.

Organization of Volunteer Camps at Historical and Сultural Heritage Sites in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Experience

Цель исследования – выявление принципов и правил организации международных волонтерских кампусов в области сохранения историко-культурного наследия в условиях пандемии COVID-19 на примере деятельности некоммерческих организаций HistoriCorps (США) и Ассоциации REMPART (Франция), специализирующихся в этой сфере. Использованы документы данных организаций, программные материалы по волонтерской работе. Изучены нормы, касающиеся вопросов проживания участников международных проектов, их численности, питания, проезда, организации культурно-досуговой программы и длительности проведения лагеря в период пандемии. Установлено, что во время карантина появились принципиально новые стандарты реализации международных проектов волонтерскими организациями. Сформулированы общие требования к организации волонтерских кампусов: от обеспечения волонтеров средствами индивидуальной защиты до их размещения принимающей стороной, создание системы мониторинга самочувствия волонтеров и сотрудников проекта. The aim of the study was to identify the principles and rules for organizing international volunteer camps in the field of preserving historical and cultural heritage in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic using the example of the activities of non-profit organizations HistoriCorps (USA) and the REMPART Association (France), specializing in this field. The study used reports, guidelines and instructions for working with participants on volunteer camps of these organizations during quarantine and in the subsequent post-pandemic period. The author applies a structural-functional approach using the methods of interpretation of legal norms and a comparative method. The practice of conducting volunteer camps was studied on the example of the activities of the American organization HistoriCorps. The data on the number of volunteers, the number of man-hours, employment conditions, peculiarities of the organization of activities, requirements for the personality, competencies and duties of the head of the volunteer brigade were revealed. The changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related to the rules and principles of preparing HistoriCorps volunteer camps, new requirements for organizing a volunteer camp and creating conditions for safe volunteer activities were investigated in detail. The HistoriCorps protocols regulating the procedure for actions in case of suspected signs of coronavirus infection in project participants were analyzed. The changes in the methodology of conducting volunteer camps, developed by the French volunteer association REMPART and related to the response of this organization to the spread of COVID-19, were studied. Specific actions, helping to ensure the sanitary safety of the participants, were identified in relation to the organization of volunteer labor. It was determined that the condition for participation in the volunteer camp should be the provision of a medical document (the PCR test result), indicating that the candidate does not have COVID-19, the passage of special training on health and safety by employees, and the provision of personal protective equipment to volunteers in accordance with the requirements of local authorities. The study resulted in a generalization of the experience accumulated by international volunteer organizations on taking additional measures related to the safe conduct of camps during the COVID-19 pandemic and the development of a number of universal recommendations that can become a practical guide for organizers and participants of volunteer camps, regardless of the location of the projects.

Comparative analysis of administrative and legal regulation of the activity of Voluntary People's Detachment in the Russian Federation and France

Unlike commercial and government structures, volunteer organizations are not widely covered in the scientific literature. Volunteerism is examined from the perspective of the motivation of the participants, their value orientation, and the level of engagement in the voluntary activity. It is no coincidence that France was selected for this comparative research, as its similarities and differences are of particular importance for the results of the study. Legal regulation of the activity of Voluntary People's Detachment (Druzhina) in Russia has its own peculiarities, as well as borrowings from the foreign experience. The author compares the Russian and French legislation, taking into account that in the Russian language the words “volunteer” and “voluntary servant” are synonymous, but not identical, while the French language uses only the neutral word “volunteer”. France has no equivalent of the Voluntary People's Druzhina; however, it has the volunteer fire squads. Therefore, comparison is conducted by the legal status of domestic and foreign volunteers. It reveals in which country the legislator is more effective in encouraging the population to participate in volunteer activity, and namely maintenance of order.

Medical volunteering is a calling to help

With the aim of reviving the traditions of mercy and providing assistance to practical health care, a volunteer movement “Volunteers-doctors” was created in 2013, which in 2016 received the official status of an All-Russian public organization.The volunteer movement of students of the St. Petersburg Medical College — structural unit of Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University (PGUPS) is considered. The activity of medical volunteers is analyzed, their active participation in charitable actions and events is shown. The results of a survey of medical students to identify attitudes towards volunteering are given: what motivates volunteers in their desire to work for free; to what extent young people are informed about the activities of volunteer organizations and are they ready to volunteer themselves. The importance of the volunteer movement in the training of future specialists in the field of medicine is determined.The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that it made it possible to identify potential volunteers wishing to engage in volunteer work among students studying at the medical college of PGUPS. In the course of the questionnaire survey, it became clear that students in general perceive volunteering positively, therefore it is necessary to develop systematic work with young people in this direction, primarily informational.