Forms and sustainability of volunteering in Csíkszentmiklós
Botond Dániel – Nóra Erőss
Abstract
The study presents a qualitative case study of five volunteer groups operating in the small rural community of Csíkszentmiklós. Its theoretical aim is to analyze local volunteering practices within the informal-formal spectrum of volunteering (Woolvin and Harper 2015) differentiating between informal and formal volunteering. The empirical goal is to explore the groups' organization, participation patterns, and sustainability factors. The methodology involved five targeted, semi-structured interviews with active members/leaders. The research confirmed that the local volunteer groups form a strong, closely cooperating, complementary network, the sustainability of which is rooted in the operation of a complex, non-linear spectrum of participation. Informal groups serve as transitional and recruitment resources for formal organizations. However, the limitations of volunteer capacity are also becoming apparent. This tension arises from the priority of informal life-course commitments (e.g., family obligations ) over the demands of structured formal volunteering, thereby limiting the availability of free time. To enhance sustainability, flexible organizational forms are required to manage changing commitment levels caused by life-course factors. Future research should deepen the investigation using a life-course perspective.
Keywords: informal volunteering, formal volunteering, life-course, community participation, case study