International volunteering as a catalyst for development activities: a qualitative study of former international volunteers
Date
2015
Authors
Hawkes, M.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Report
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
The development activities of international volunteers continue and compound once their assignments have concluded. Understanding the capacity, scope and influencers of development activities carried out by former international volunteers is intrinsic to the generation of knowledge of the consequent influences and sustained effectiveness of international volunteering as a development tool.While the literature examining the activities carried out by former international volunteers within the development sector specifically is not extensive, similar studies suggest that there is a growing interest in the opportunities accessed by former international volunteers and on the benefits received from international volunteering by former international volunteers.By employing qualitative modes of enquiry involving former international volunteers and local and international development sector actors from around Australia, this research reveals both the ways in which international volunteering activities and contexts equip former international volunteers to engage in global and local development activities together with an unpacking of not only the types of opportunities and activities that are accessed but the capacity for and influencers of such activities within the development sector.Through an analysis of the development activities carried out by former international volunteers, this research reports the following key findings:Finding 1: The majority of all former international volunteers continue to be engaged in local and international development;Finding 2: The transformative nature of international volunteering can catalyse increased and deepened civic engagement in the sending community;Finding 3: The majority of former international volunteers have been influential in their development activities;Finding 4: While international volunteerism offers an opportunity for volunteers to acquire and enhance their contextual skills, opportunities for application of these skills within the development sector are limited;Finding 5: Participants involved in recruitment within the development sector placed a positive value on the skills and experience likely to be developed through international volunteering.Overall the findings demonstrated that, with certain supports and conditions in place, former international volunteers are well positioned to engage in activities that make an influential contribution to global and local development. The transformative nature of the experience catalyses former international volunteers to engage more reflectively and deeply in development activities. It is expected that this research will contribute to and build on emerging literature on international volunteerism as well as conversations in both the development and national volunteering spaces.