Youth volunteering in
Midi-Pyrénées : an asset for youngsters, a chance for
associations
Objective
The studies are focussed on two main goals : youth
volunteering is changing and associations are ready to welcome more
young volunteers. Determining the youngsters expectations and the
associations needs would allow to promote , in France, some kind of
national program for youth volunteering that doesn't exist yet.
Methodology
Two questionnaires were dispatched among youngsters and
associations. The first one was dispatched among youngsters, aged 16
to 35 years, via a specific network for the information of youngsters
("Réseau information jeunesse"). 757 answers for Midi
Pyrénées. The second questionnaire was sent to
associations Via city halls , Préfectures and the Regional
Directions for Youth and Sports . 297 answers in Midi
Pyrénées. The consultation among youngsters and
associations was facilitated by the support of the Directions for
Youth and Sports. Thanks to this partnership we could obtain very
good return for the questionnaires that were dispatched through their
networks.
Geographic area
Regional : 3 Departements
Haute-Garonne (Toulouse), Lot (Cahors) and Tarn.(Albi)
Planning
February -March : Contacts
April-May: Dispatchning of the questionnaires
June-July : Analysis of the questionnaires
September-October : first draft
November - Decembre : Results integrated in the national study
January 2001 : Presentation of the results at the IAVE Conference in
Amsterdam
Results
In Midi-Pyrénées., 65.4% in of the
youngsters interviewed were volunteers.The average young volunteer is
a boy ; aged between 26 and 35 years ; with at least the
baccalaureate and over ; married youngsters are more volunteers than
non married ones ; youngsters with a professional activity are more
volunteers than those with none.The main domains of involvement of
youngsters are : Sport and leisure : ½ of the answers ;
Education-training-employment : 1/11 of the answers ; Humanitarian
field : 1/11 of the answers ; Culture : 1/5 of the answers. According
to associations in Midi Pyrénées, the first limit for
the association is more linked to the youngsters professional
activity, another limit is family life.The main critics made to young
volunteers by the associations are : the lack of availability (1/2 of
the answers), the lack of skills ( 1/8 ), the lack of motivation
(1/12 in Midi Pyrénées). Nevertheless more than 3/4 of
the associations interviewed are ready to welcome more youngsters
among them.