Measuring the impact of volunteering on individual health, well-being, skills and employability.










 For individuals, volunteering can boost confidence, resilience and skills, but it can also involve stress, exclusion and unequal experiences. Capturing this full spectrum of outcomes requires measurement approaches that are sensitive to cultural contexts and inclusive of diverse individual experiences. This chapter explores quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to measuring the multiple effects of volunteering on individuals. 

India. Credit: UNV


To date, most evidence on personal impacts draws from experiences of individuals in or from the Global North, including local and international volunteers.  Expanding the discussion about how to measure volunteering particularly in settings in the Global South can lead to data that offers a more representative account of volunteering worldwide. This stronger evidence can help inform future advocacy, guide the fair distribution of resources and address inequalities in who volunteers and how they benefit from it.

Location: 405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The State-of-the-art of volunteer measurement.

Image
Building on the case made in chapter 1, this chapter provides a critical overview of the state-of-the-art in volunteer measurement, tracing how approaches have evolved from their origins in statistical and economic terms to the holistic, multi-method frameworks increasingly used today. Examples illustrate how measurement objectives and practices have changed, particularly since the 2000s, alongside a growing understanding of volunteering as a force with economic and social value . From this new holistic perspective, measurement has become key to demonstrating that voluntary action generates public value and deserves recognition from citizens and governments.   As established in chapter 1, how volunteering is measured directly affects how it is valued. This chapter delves into the tools themselves, showing how different approaches can shape narratives and influence decisions. While standardized indicators are essential for comparability – one of the goals addressed by the GIVE fram...
Read more

Recognition fuels action.

Image
 Together, the world can create safe and inclusive volunteering environments , recognize contributions , and innovatenew models of volunteer engagement .    For more details, visit the  International Volunteer Day , the  International Volunteer Year 2026 , and check out the  2026State of the World’s Volunteerism Report . Social media materials are available on  UNV’s Trello board .
Read more

More than 2.1 billion volunteers worldwide act every month to foster solidarity and humanity.

Image
  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN in 2015, is a universal plan for peace and prosperity, featuring 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure well-being for all by 2030, integrating economic, social, and environmental aspects with a focus on leaving no one behind through global partnership and action . The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) plays a role in supporting this agenda, especially concerning youth and inclusive development, by mobilizing volunteers for initiatives that address these goals. Volunteer efforts are vital for achieving the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment , responding to humanitarian emergencies, and building resilient communities
Read more