BARRIERS TO YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM IN A HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION IN BACOLOD CITY, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The Philippine Red Cross is known nationwide in the Philippines for its humanitarian work which includes in disease prevention efforts, emergency relief operations, and aid during armed conflict. On a local level, chapters of the Philippine Red Cross provide students, specifically youth aged 15 to 24 years, with opportunities for leadership and professional development. Various schools in Bacolod City, Philippines, the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental, also promote volunteerism by requiring students to join a club and volunteer at club events. One of these clubs in Bacolod City is the Philippine Red Cross which has allowed students to develop a deep sense of volunteerism throughout its 74 years of existence in the Philippines. In this pilot study, a mixed methods approach was utilized to ensure that quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (interviews) were included in the study to reflect the volunteer experiences of the study participants and what they feel serve as barriers to volunteerism. Surveys were completed by three (3) students in Bacolod City, and interviews were conducted via Zoom afterwards. These interviews allowed the study participants to further expand on their responses and share information about the barriers that they have experienced serving as volunteers for the local chapter. This study will highlight the impact of youth volunteerism while also addressing ways to support the needs of youth volunteers, especially those who experience numerous barriers to continuously volunteer at their local chapter.