Promoting engagement: An organizational study of volunteers in community resource centres for children

The article examines how people living in poor communities speak of their v olunteer experiences in multicultural community resource centres for childr en, and how they understand the organizational conditions that promote or d iscourage meaningful volunteer work. Their volunteering experiences in comm unity resource centres geared to the development of children and neighbourh oods are explored in focus groups. Calculations of volunteer hours over thr ee years complemented the qualitative data along with participant observati on and documents. Respondents value three dimensions of volunteering: engag ing in relationships; accomplishing tasks; and experiencing the power to ma ke decisions. Volunteering is fostered when organizations contribute financ ial resources to pay core staff and cover some costs of volunteering; ensur e core staff build and maintain a respectful atmosphere in which meaningful participation is supported; and create substantial opportunities for commu nity governance. The discussion speaks to several options that can be consi dered when the organizational supports for the experiences that volunteers value are threatened by economic restructuring and public cut-backs in serv ices.