Affiliative Segregation of Outsiders from a Community: Bonding and Bridging Social Capital in Hachimori-cho, Japan

Abstract: Social capital makes cooperation possible even in situations of social dilemma. People develop bonding social capital when their network is dense. However, bonding social capital tends to make them look inward and to foster strong out-group hostility, which hinders the development of bridging social capital between groups. I investigated the possibility that bonding social capital may help develop bridging social capital from which all group members gain profits. Fieldwork was conducted in Hachimori-cho, Japan, where outsider Saru-Oiage volunteers are segregated from community residents. The volunteers have dense social networks and develop bonding social capital. They gain skills and take pride and responsibility in their actions from the bonding social capital, so that they can pursue the same interests as community residents, namely, expel monkeys from farmlands. Residents accept volunteers eagerly because they work well, and the existence of "good" outsiders contributes to the development of local identity. An affiliative relationship between volunteers and residents is maintained by the enormous efforts of the coordinators. Because the coordinators recently immigrated to Hachimori, they could understand the situations of outsiders as well as those of community residents, and they gain the most benefits from bridging social capital. These conditions were necessary for bridging social capital, or the cooperative relationship, between the two groups in Hachimori-cho.     

高校青年志愿者组织存在的问题及对策探讨——以四川省某高校为例

本文以作者的工作体验为基础,从组织行为学的角度分析了高校青年志愿者组织存在如下问题:志愿者的来源上,缺乏有效的甄别、选拔和确认程序;组织管理上,存在"行政化"倾向;组织目标设定上,存在追求社会效益的倾向;活动项目设置上,存在忽视学生专业训练的倾向;活动开展上,存在急功近利的倾向.在此基础上,提出了高校加强青年志愿者组织建设的对策措施:加强对志愿者身份的管理,建立一支相对稳定的志愿者队伍;建立柔性管理制度,加强对志愿者的技能培训,提高服务水平;实施志愿者活动项目化管理,建立志愿者服务活动的长效机制.     

A Study Exploring Risk Management Issues Among Volunteers in an Oncology Support Program

ABSTRACT. Risk management and challenges of volunteer roles in an oncology support program in Montreal, Canada, were explored using a phenomenological approach involving 65 service volunteers. Fourteen focus groups were held representing oncology services in the hospital and the wellness center. Self-reported questions were administered to assess the risks perceived by the volunteers. Findings revealed 4 major themes: comfort level, daily frustrations, risk and environmental issues, and suggestions. Suggestions included: better communication with staff, a safer health-related environment, and improved role-specific training to mitigate the risks. Additionally, for each group, 1 specific change was implemented during a 6-month period. Health care professionals should focus on job-training issues to address safety, comfort level, and role capacity. Future research should investigate an enhanced training curriculum with strategies to address concerns about risk management. Volunteers who are better equipped to perform their roles will be able to offer a higher quality of service to patients and families.     

北京奥运会志愿者法律问题刍议

如何将北京奥运会志愿者的管理纳入法制的轨道,包括明确奥运会志愿者的法律地位、完善奥运会志愿者相关立法等,是北京奥运应当解决的问题。     

Learning Experiences of Older Volunteers in a Community-based Social Program for People with Dementia

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to explore older adults’ perspectives on volunteering in an activity-based social program for community-dwelling people with dementia called Stepping Stones. Semi-structured interviews were individually conducted with eight older adults who had volunteered in Stepping Stones. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interview data. Four themes related to learning experiences of older volunteers in Stepping Stones emerged. These themes include (a) self-growth and confidence in working with people with dementia; (b) understanding dementia, people with dementia, and needed support for people with dementia and their families; (c) desire not to develop dementia, while recognizing that anything can happen in old age; and (d) exercising person-centered approaches and taking on advocacy roles. Findings suggest that older volunteers gain feelings of personal growth and confidence in working with people with dementia, better understanding, and enhanced attitudes toward people with dementia through volunteering in an activity-based social program for people with dementia. Older adults will be able to fill the needs of community programs for people with dementia, while experiencing benefits from volunteering and learning in later life. Further research is needed to examine to what extent having previous dementia experiences make their experiences and learning different.     

Volunteers, families and children in need: an evaluation of Family Friends

This paper explores the findings from a small‐scale research project that analysed the impact of Family Friends – a voluntary agency that provides support to families under stress who have children aged between 5 and 11 years. The study, funded by Family Friends, evaluated service users’ perceptions of the support they received, specifically in relation to the significance and impact of the volunteer befrienders. The research identified that there are a proportion of families in need who fail to attract services from mainstream statutory agencies. It also identified that the Family Friends voluntary agency makes a particular contribution to service provision by offering a friendly, non‐stigmatizing, caring and responsive service.