TRENDS AND MOTIVES OF VOLUNTEERING IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The main resource for the implementation of many social programs in any country is the population. This determines the relevance of the study of opportunities to involve citizens in this type of socially useful activities.However, there are almost no systematic studies of the real awareness ofdifferent categories of the population about peculiarities of volunteering and about the citizens’ motives to this type of charity. Therefore, the task of monitoring the mood of society regarding the peculiarities of thedevelopment of volunteering in our country, including the main factors that motivate people to charity, appears.The main trends in the attitude of the population of Ukraine tovolunteering are identified based on our own sociological research. Therelevance of different types of volunteering for modern Ukrainian society and the commitment of the survey participants to each of them is determined. The motives for involving citizens in volunteer work areidentified.We interviewed 105 respondents of different ages, occupations, withdifferent income levels and from different regions of Ukraine. 80% ofrespondents declared a positive attitude to volunteering. Today, the mostrelevant citizens of our country consider such areas as assistance to theUkrainian military / victims of hostilities and support for disadvantagedgroups. Equally important is caring for the environment and caring foranimals. Respondents consider the desire to help the needy to be the most important motivating factor for charity. Acquisition of useful social and practical skills, the possibility of specialized training and involvement in international exchange programs also encourage people to volunteer.According to the results of the sociological research, the most importantdeterrents are indifference to the problems of others and lack of information about actions, events and volunteer organizations that implement them.In order for the volunteer movement to become systemic rather thansituational, the work of volunteers cannot be constantly based solely ontheir values and internal motives aimed at uselessly helping others. Tosupport and continue the effective functioning of this type of socially useful activity, it is necessary to form an effective system of stimulating the population to volunteer.