Berkley Center

At my high school, all students were required to complete a total of 40 community service hours prior to graduation. I spent the majority of my volunteer hours working on a project at my local hospital, while several of my friends tutored at an elementary school, coached at a basketball camp, or served at a community soup kitchen. These direct service projects, which initially seemed intimidating to incoming freshmen, ultimately became rewarding experiences as each student found a way to combine social justice with an activity they were passionate about. In most cases, students did not keep track of their hours because the incentive for volunteering evolved from meeting a graduation requirement to satisfaction, fulfillment, or dedication to the particular organization or cause. The connection between school and required volunteering makes sense because it is simply another aspect of one’s education.

In July 2008, the British government published the draft of a new Borders, Immigration, and Citizenship Bill that introduced a series of reforms to Britain’s immigration system. One significant proposal within the bill was the option for applicants to speed up their application for full citizenship/permanent residence by submitting evidence of “active citizenship” by pledging to volunteer in the local community. The purpose of this option, according to the Path to Citizenship Green Paper, is to “encourage all migrants who wish to stay in the UK permanently to integrate fully into society, including bringing probationary citizens in greater contact with the wider community, showing current British citizens that those seeking to join them as British citizens are earning citizenship by being active rather than passive participants in UK life.” The benefits of volunteering allow the application time for a refugee seeking full citizenship to be reduced from eight years to six years and from five years to three years for a relative of a current citizen. The bill has been gaining popularity and may come into effect in the fall of 2010.

Although I have only been in the country for a little over a month, I have been inundated with editorials, news reports, and lectures concerning the issue of immigration in Britain. Surveys of voters consistently name immigration as the most important issue (even above the economy) as the upcoming election nears. Politicians describe the need to create a unified Britain that still contains the elements of a diverse, multicultural nation. Although I support volunteering as a way to build stronger, more sustainable communities, I do not support the Borders, Immigration, and Citizenship Bill which uses volunteering as a means to an end.

There are a variety of reasons why people choose to volunteer in community-based organizations: to meet new people, build confidence, gain skills for future employment, achieve recognition, etc. The purpose of a community-based organization is to provide volunteers with the opportunity to meet their individual goals while adding value to the organization. Unlike a paid job where there is an inherent power dynamic between employee and employer, a volunteer role has much more freedom. The use of volunteering as an immigration tool completely devalues its purpose. A volunteer should want to help a specific organization because it is an enjoyable experience, not because it is a means to an end. If this fundamental purpose of volunteering is altered, it simply creates the perception of community building.

Beyond these fundamental concerns regarding volunteering, there are several practical issues that arise. What are the criteria for volunteering? What type of organizations are included, what role would volunteers play, and how long would volunteers serve? Volunteering adds value to a community-based organization because volunteers are typically open-minded. Yet, all volunteers still place a tremendous burden on the organization because they require training and coordination. But these investments are usually worth it in the long run as volunteers are willing to offer their support because they want the organization to be successful. The introduction of the Borders, Immigration, and Citizenship Bill calls into question the intentions of a new volunteer—an area that could potentially lead to volunteer discrimination if not properly addressed.

At the University of Manchester, I am involved in an exciting opportunity called the Leadership and Service Program. The program is split into two sections: an academic component and an immersion opportunity. The classroom experience provides an academic framework by addressing the major challenges facing twenty-first century leaders. Each week, an expert from the field addresses a different topic such as social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, poverty, globalization, or sustainable urban development. The immersion aspect of the program asks students to volunteer 60 hours during the semester in local nonprofit organizations. I hope to share my volunteering experiences as they relate to British religious attitudes in my next post. Cheers!