Volume 6. Issue 3. 2026.
Editorial Preface
The central theme of the third issue of the sixth volume of the online journal Volunteering Review is the analysis and presentation of the roles and activities of civil and non-profit organizations dedicated to social causes. We offer a diverse range of content, providing a comprehensive overview of the social civil and nonprofit sub-sector— spanning approximately 230 pages — through three theoretical studies and seven case studies that examine the sub-sector from a longitudinal perspective and assess the situation of organizations operating in various fields of activity. By conducting a longitudinal analysis covering the period from 1990 to 2024, we aimed to address the data gap facing researchers, social sector professionals, and leaders of civil and nonprofit organizations—a gap resulting from the absence of detailed statistical data on the sub-sector since 2017.While the first theoretical study presents the characteristics of social-purpose civil and non-profit organizations and their volunteers over the course of three and a half decades—contextualized within the development of domestic social policy and the nonprofit sector—the second study examines these aspects through the lens of the sub-sector's economic strength and revenue structure. The third study—included for its importance in raising awareness, despite its only tangential connection to the main theme—investigates the factors that may hinder individuals from becoming volunteers. This study aims to assist civil society and non-profit organizations with a social mission in developing their recruitment strategies. Nonprofit statistics classify these organizations into six activity categories: general multi-purpose; care and support for people with health impairments; child and youth protection; social support for the needy and family welfare; and support for the elderly. Through the selected case studies, we have endeavored to cover these areas of activity to varying degrees. First, we present a comprehensive perspective—examining the relationship between social work and volunteering—on the activities, challenges, and issues faced by social-purpose civil organizations working in segregated areas and in homelessness services. Second, we highlight the role of inclusive volunteering for young people transitioning out of the child protection system. Third, a case study addressing current issues within the disability rights movement covers other important topics and challenges. We would particularly like to draw attention to two case studies that focus on raising awareness of and engaging higher education students in volunteering, as well as the associated research and practical experiences. Finally, the book review section recommends a newly published work that explores the subject of volunteering from an andragogical perspective. In our view, this perspective also clearly demonstrates the diverse interdisciplinary approaches that research into volunteering offers.
Scylla or Charybdis? – Characteristics of social nonprofit organizations and their volunteers based on nonprofit statistical data (1994–2024)
Anna Mária Bartal - István Sebestény
"Over the past three decades, civil and non-profit organizations with a social purpose have played an undeniable role—by assuming public duties, service delivery, and advocacy—in shaping not only the non-profit sector but social policy as well."
Volunteering and future-conscious work ethic among university students. Results of a quantitative study conducted in Central and Eastern Europe
Hajnalka Fényes – Gabriella Pusztai
"Our research seeks to answer whether students with volunteer experience have a higher future-conscious work ethic, and what motivations for volunteering are related to this construct."
Monitoring in practice: The First Aid Service of the Hungarian Red Cross in the Lake Balaton
Dóra Ipolyi – András Molnár
"Mentoring does not appear as a separate, formal program element, but rather weaves itself into everyday operations on multiple levels – from pair assignments to evening group sessions – and plays a key role in the transfer of tacit knowledge, the creation of psychological safety, and organizational socialization."
Suliplussz – good practice of youth mentoring with the cooperation KÖZ-Pont Youth Association
Gergely Tibor Galambvári – János Bálega
"By presenting the process and results, our goal is also to draw attention to the need and importance of mentoring in general and to show professional ideas and opportunities for youth work with disadvantaged young people and other organizations dealing with mentoring."
The role of volunteer mentoring in supporting project-based learning – a case study of a high school student project competition
Éva Magócs – Rita Kálmánchey – Lajos Pálvölgyi
"The case study highlights that mentoring plays a key role in improving the quality of projects, especially in the areas of planning, documentation and presentation. However, challenges include student overload, lack of time, underutilization of opportunities and difficulty in maintaining contact."
Synergies of community cultural mentoring and community activity in the professional activities of the "KözösÉrték" Association
Anita Bodor – Csaba Szabó – Katalin Józsa – László Angyal – Amália Neveda
"The central thesis of the paper is that volunteering in public education can be interpreted as a kind of "third pillar", which, at the intersection of initiative and action, can become a sustainable resource for community development with structured mentoring."
From cultural integration to mental support – The evolution of ESC mentoring at "Egyesek" Youth Association
Szilvia Szimcsera – Tamás Komáromi
"The aim of the case study is to present the development path of the mentoring practice of the Egyesek Youth Association and the dilemmas it is currently facing. The focus of the analysis is on the change in the role of mentoring and its organizational embeddedness."
