E bull enmay doc

Here's to Volunteers!

 

Ulvi Akhundli 

ISAR-Azerbaijan

 

 

Are you young and full of energy with creative ideas?  Of course you are.  But perhaps you do not know where to 

channel your energy and ideas.  Fortunately, we have what just might be the perfect solution for you. 

 

In the summer of 2000, in order to help young people of Azerbaijan learn more about the nongovernmental sector, 

ISAR-Azerbaijan developed its Student Internship Program.  Seven students and graduates from different Baku 

universities took part. In the first round they carried out their internships in four local organizations.  These future 

doctors, teachers and lawyers carried out surveys in kindergartens, translated documents, developed programs to 

provide services through electronic mail and much more.  The results of the pilot round proved to be so successful 

that it was decided to involve more young people in the program so they could learn first hand about NGOs. 

 

Five rounds of this program have already been implemented.  About 40 students have taken part in internships in 20 

local nongovernmental organizations.  Gulnara Ismailova expressed her feelings to us regarding her internship in the 

NGO “Galkhan”, which work  with refugce  boys. 

 

“It's early in the morning. It's raining and windy outside, but deep inside I am happy.  I have my sandwich and cup of 

coffee as usual and I know that the children under Galkhan's care will be waiting for me at 11.00.  The children are 

always happy when I come.  Having graduated from university, I, like many of my peers, was like a car without 

wheels.  My head was full of ideas but without practical skills, I could not apply these ideas.  In order to be 

successful professionally, one must add practical experience to their educational achievements.  My educational 

background is in psychology and it is in this field that I work with Galkhan.”  

 

“For the first time,  here I can truly feel the advantages of teamwork.  When my inspiration runs dry I turn to my 

colleagues and friends  for help.  All of them are  talented people and are ready to help with advice.  When I am very 

tired and need a break I resort to “extreme measures”  I meet with my colleagues over tea and crackers.  While 

drinking tea we talk about work and other topics.  We examine the work we've done, examine and correct our 

mistakes and develop new ideas. In the evenings when I go home I never feel that my day has been spent in vain.”  

 

Gulnara continued to expain her views on volunteering and NGOs. “I understand that here in our city there are 

people who are engaged in real work. They are voluteers just as me.  Their days are not routine or predictable. They 

know how to listen and how to survive.  They are full of humor and have many new ideas.  They have new 

approaches to solving problems.  I am very happy to have learned of this world which I previously knew nothing 

about, the world of  nongovernmental organizations…” 

 

For more details, about the Student Internship Program, contact the ISAR-Azerbaijan Information and Outresech 

Program. 

 

 

---

Currently volunteering is a very developed and respected movement all over the world.  “Volunteer” is a 

French word that refers to a person who prefers to be a participant and a creator rather than a spectator, 

and who does not expect payment for his or her labor.  According to E.A.Levchenko, Doctor of Economy, 

and director of “The Gomel Public Unions Resource and Support Center”, very often loneliness and the 

need for contacts are motives for volunteer activity.  These people need to find their place in a group.  

Groups makes their members feel that they themselves belong and are secure and supported.  The 

following questions should prove useful for organizations that want to make use of volunteers. 

 

People answer positively when they are offered a job in accordance with their own motivations.  Surveys 

show that volunteers have many of the following motivations. 

 

- I want to help people in need. 61%                                                         

  - I hope to learn something new. 46% 

- I want to be engaged in something. 41%                          

  - It is for my own satisfaction. 31% 

- I want to get acquainted with new people. 29%              

- I want to give something back to society. 11% 

- I want to fight a specific problem. 7%                         

  - I have free time. 4% 

 

Through informing people of volunteering, we are better able to achieve a real increase in citizen 

involvement in addressing the needs of society. 

 

Information taken from the web site:  www.ngo.ru