Summary
In the article we learn about the true meaning of volunteering inside a community. People are able to be part of a community where they are able to express, to understand, and to experience themselves. Many organizations and governments today require volunteers to help provide key services and support in the culture, recreation, and social services. In today's society, volunteers have to deal with policy and politics, social issues, and the structure of community and family.
The article also focuses on leisure and questions how volunteering can also be a form of leisure. The central question for volunteers is to attempt to understand their motivation and benefits of volunteering. The personal meaning and experience you gain from volunteering is what makes it important. In today's society the study of volunteers is a multidisciplinary study beyond sociology and psychology.
My Experience as a Volunteer
This term I am enrolled in REC 356: Rec & Community Development. During the first half of the term, each student had to volunteer at a certain location. I ended up volunteering for the City of Waterloo Recreational Department where I was a research assistant. I helped review Waterloo's Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy and also reviewed other cities strategies (Oakville and London). We made recommendations from our readings to our supervisor. However, there were weaknesses that I found when working as a research assistant. I found that there was too much research, reading and report writing and lack of actual hands on work. In the end, I had a great experience and gained a good understanding of the behind the scene work that goes into creating safe active and healthy communities.
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