Girls students are more inclined to volunteer for a social cause than boys while students from the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are more likely to opt for volunteerism.
These are the findings of the new study ‘Volunteering in India’ conducted by Child Rights and You (CRY), a non-profit organisation working for child rights, and a consulting firm Grant Thornton Bharat. The first of its kind study explores layers and nuances of volunteerism and helps in understanding the nature of philanthropy in India. The study was launched on the eve of International Volunteers Day celebrated all across the world on December 5.
For the study, the organisations reached out to more than 5,000 respondents covering 107 cities and towns in 22 states and UTs, to understand trends related to volunteerism in India.
“With females constituting 61.7 per cent of respondents among the students, the study indeed suggests a higher female inclination towards volunteerism, though whether it can be attached to any particular gender-related reasons could be one interesting point to be delved further,” a statement by CRY said.
As 69 per cent of the respondents were from the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, it showed that small town students show more interests in volunteering. “This highlighted the appeal of service gradually gaining ground across various socioeconomic backgrounds. It underscores the need for inclusive strategies that cater to the unique needs and contexts of volunteers from different regions.”
The study found out that about 19 per cent of all student respondents stated there were no volunteering opportunities available, indicating that there is enough scope to design suitable volunteering programme and reach a vast untapped market.
The concentration of respondents in the age bracket of 19 to 22 years emphasises the eagerness of young adults to engage in volunteerism, likely driven by a combination of altruistic motives and the pursuit of personal development.
At the same time, a significant portion of participants holding or pursuing bachelor’s degrees suggests a well-educated demographic, indicating that volunteering opportunities should be designed to leverage and further develop the sophisticated skill-sets of these individuals.
Among the senior volunteers, recommendations from family and friends prompted them to discovering the volunteering opportunities. Although 10 per cent of the senior volunteers expressed interest in gaining new skills, 46 per cent claimed that they were interested in hybrid modes of volunteering. Fifty-four percent of the working professionals stated that they preferred hybrid mode of volunteering. More than 57 per cent of the respondents in this group preferred volunteering for less than one week; while 26 per cent preferred less than one day, indicating the need of designing tailor-made volunteering programmes to attract the professionals.
Majority of the homemakers were reportedly inclined towards volunteering activities they found out from local trusted sources. There has been a willingness to volunteer closer to their homes, which would not require much travel. Most of them had family responsibilities such as taking care of the needs of their children and elders, the study added.
“The report is more than just an analysis of the current state of volunteering in India; it is a call to action. It invites all stakeholders — volunteers, organisations, corporations, policymakers, and the wider community — to engage in a thoughtful discussion about the future of volunteerism in India. By applying the insights and recommendations provided in this study, we can work together to build a more inclusive, vibrant, and impactful volunteering ecosystem,” Puja Marwaha, the CRY CEO said.
Rohit Bahadur, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat said it was crucial to understand the underlying factors that drive individuals to volunteer. By exploring these motivations and the challenges, this report offers valuable information that can guide NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders in developing more engaging volunteers programmes.
