Analysis of challenges in International voluntary service in the COVID-19 era on example of Slovak development volunteer projects

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15310%2F20%3A73602424" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15310/20:73602424 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.actamissiologica.com/sub/am_2_2020.pdf" target="_blank" >https://www.actamissiologica.com/sub/am_2_2020.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Analysis of challenges in International voluntary service in the COVID-19 era on example of Slovak development volunteer projects

Original language description

Background: International or development volunteering is recognized as an important tool for overcoming challenges of international development. In 2012 development volunteering has been defined and used as one of the tools of Official development assistance (ODA) of the Slovak Republic. In 2019, twenty-one applications by seven Slovak development organisations were approved and selected persons were sent on missions to thirteen low-income countries. However, in March–April 2020, after a strike of global pandemic COVID-19, ten of them returned immediately due to the country lockdown or closure of the project locations (schools, community centers), rendering them impossible to continue in volunteering activities. Therefore, year 2020 is presenting significant changes and challenges in volunteer management of nonprofits (IVCOs) because of an impact of COVID-19. Methods: A qualitative study design was used to collect data from development volunteers and their coordinators from particular Slovak development nonprofits in March–August 2020. After the content analysis of eighteen media products, eight semi-structured interviews and two focus group (FG) discussions followed. Collected data was analyzed thematically. Results: Three thematic areas where a different impact on the actors of volunteer management (including host and sending nonprofits, as well as donors) were identified: 1. Changes in delivery of Official development assistance (at institutional level impacting donors–IVCOs relations); 2. An importance of new remote approach to volunteering (at individual level impacting volunteers’ experience); 3. An occurrence of internal issues within the nonprofits (at interpersonal level impacting IVCO–employees/volunteers relations). Two new approaches to volunteering came to the fore: online volunteering and support to local, community-level volunteers. Conclusions: This study shows how the COVID-19 affected particular missions of development volunteers: their field work, communication and contact with beneficiaries from vulnerable communities in low-income countries. Sending and host organizations are testing new online models and approaches to international volunteering (recently implemented to practice) while trying to get volunteers back into the field to make an impact. Stakeholders need to cooperate and share intelligence on risks, travel, and other restrictions to make this work. This requires continual following and comparison of up-to-date empirical research results in the field of international volunteering in the light of constant updates on prevention and elimination of the pandemic COVID-19.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_ost - Miscellaneous article in a specialist periodical

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50902 - Social sciences, interdisciplinary

Project

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Continuities

N - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z neverejnych zdroju

Publication year

2020

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

ACTA MISSIOLOGICA

ISSN

1337-7515

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

14

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

SK - SLOVAKIA

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

137-151

UT code for WoS article

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EID of the result in the Scopus database

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