The Nature Of Volunteering

Even though volunteering is increasing and widely spreading all over the globe, “scholars continue to struggle with how to accurately describe and measure it” (Emmett D. Carson 2001). The Compact Code of Good Practice on Volunteering (1998) says that “volunteering is an important expression of citizenship and fundamental to democracy. It is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and the community, and can take many forms. It is freely undertaken and not for financial gain.” Volunteering is based on the Latin voluns (choose) or velle (want): the choice and the (free) will to help are essential to determine volunteerism. (Debbie Haski-Leventhal 2009)
Volunteering is supposed to be trended by Western society from the past

The most materials are got from already made researches, studies about volunteering. The topic is explored from different aspects: sociology, biology, psychology, political science. Thus, the social researches help to explore the perception of volunteering in society; policy regulations for of projection conceptual modern system; psychological studies for understanding natural altruistic sense of people for help and first-driven roots. This study assumes that volunteering is natural sentiment of people that has roots in natural environment; and, people by understanding the power of this concept, started using it for more intent through changing the modern perception; moreover, being unique in European cultures. It is aimed to explore the historical geography of volunteering and to find some hidden intends behind this system. Therefore, finally being concluded by comparative analysis of European region with the case-studies in Japan and United States; the historical development and the cross-national studies are going to be

It is generally agreed that there are two types of volunteering - 'formal' and 'informal'. (Oppenheimer 2002) Both incorporate choice and involve individuals donating or giving their time freely, that is, receiving no remuneration for work done. (Oppenheimer 2002) 'Formal' volunteering is carried out in the public sphere, within properly constituted organizations, and “is more structured and thus more amenable to explanations based on situational or country-level factors.” (Parboteeah, Cullen, Lim 2004) ‘Informal’ volunteering tends to be more spontaneous and is more dependent on individual differences (Amato, 1990) generally, volunteering is localized and is community focused. Volunteer work often shares identical characteristics with paid work: it is productive, valuable, value-adding, and contributes to the economy both directly and indirectly. (Oppenheimer