Questions on volunteerism!

[ViCtoria*]

1) How do YOU define volunteering? (Maybe you see someone doing paperwork for an organisation or a woman going to an orphanage and playing songs for the kids. What do you see?)

2) Should a volunteering organisation be horizontal, or should some people have more "power" or "responsibility"?

3) In vertical organisations where there are people with more "power", should they get paid?

4) What world issue do you consider very important right now? (Poverty, animal treatment, world hunger, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, human rights, etc.)

5) Do you think volunteering organisations should focus on the world issue you chose?

6) If you are volunteering in an organisation: Should you take more time on planning the project or on taking immediate action?

Please answer these questions and contribute with more if you have any. Thanks!

[alyssamilanofan]

1) How do YOU define volunteering?
I think it's someone that contributes to mankind, the community without wanting something in return (like getting payed).. That could be a father/mother coaching their sons'/daughters' soccer practice or a teacher who goes to africa, to teach kids in their 'off-time'..

2) Should a volunteering organisation be horizontal, or should some people have more "power" or "responsibility"?
In my experience it works better when there is one person that oversees the projects and the organization.. So yeah someone should have more power/responsibility..

3) In vertical organisations where there are people with more "power", should they get paid?
Hmm usually they get paid and a lot of times that is ok but it should be moderated (not the topsalaries some directors get from charities!)

4) What world issue do you consider very important right now? (Poverty, animal treatment, world hunger, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, human rights, etc.)
Animal treatment, Poverty and in connection to that neglected tropical diseases (that involves world hunger too), education and of course the economy right now

5) Do you think volunteering organisations should focus on the world issue you chose?
well that depends on what organisation it is.. But yes I think it;s important and people should focus on it..

6) If you are volunteering in an organisation: Should you take more time on planning the project or on taking immediate action?
Depends on the project but planning is usually advisable.. Depends on your role in the project too btw..