Mar 17, 2011 10:35 AM
What is Volunteerism? It is the willingness of the people to work on behalf of others without any expectation of monetary or other tangible gain and to do that in a way that is not demeaning and condescending. It is a broad definition and encompasses wide range of activities from the mundane, such as giving direction to lost visitors, to much more involved and complex activities, such as a search-and-rescue mission in major disasters. Altruism is defined as the selfless concern for the welfare of others.
Asian Indians in general, whether residing in India or those of us who have settled in USA, are charitable and are willing to help others. However the nature of our generosity is typically spontaneous and not pre-planned, and we tend to be more generous with our time and money when it relates to religious matters. As a group, our participation in other humanitarian projects is limited.
What are the different ways to volunteer? You can do community work at different levels: helping a fellow citizen in your community, helping a devotee in the place of worship, or even helping with major disasters at the national or international level. The majority of volunteers work on an impromptu basis - recognizing an immediate need and filling it – although some volunteer jobs require extensive training and are well structured, such as The American Red Cross, Ham radio operators , Firefighters, etc.
Those of us raised in India often helped family members and friends as need arose. We helped sick or disabled individuals, helped with funeral planning, raised funds for temple activities, etc. We had very few structured proactive organizations that trained people to handle unforeseen large-scale disasters. As a consequence, majority of the children raised in India were not exposed to charitable activities. Our families, schools and temples did not promote the value of helping the underserved and underprivileged. However, awareness of volunteerism is improving in modern times and some temples and some families are promoting community outreach work, but they are few and far in between.
When we first arrived in the U.S., most of us were busy addressing personal family and professional activities. Later on, during the next six to 10 years, we became involved with religious and cultural activities - for example, forming cultural associations, building and establishing temples. As we have gained financial independence and have more personal free time, many of us have become involved in structured organizations. In some larger U.S. cities, free-standing programs such as Sakhi for South Asian Women (NYC), and Apna Ghar (Chicago), Maitri (San Francisco) etc. were started to address women’s issues – and in particular, domestic violence. But with few exceptions, Hindu Temples have not participated in community outreach programs specifically to help the underprivileged.
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERISM
Volunteering teaches important values: compassion, empathy, gratitude, good stewardship and community responsibility. It breaks down stereotypes and teaches tolerances, as we learn to accept peoples’ differences and appreciate peoples’ struggles. Volunteerism helps your community and makes you feel good about yourself. It prevents and lessens depression. Volunteer works helps you see that you are needed and important and that you can make a difference in someone else’s life. People will depend on you and get your advice and you will gain a sense of purpose, a sense of well being and will help to boost your spirit and self-esteem. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival but commercialism and social isolation have eroded traditional values. We can bridge that expanding gap through volunteerism.
Fundamentally, volunteerism is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. As a volunteer, you make a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure. Volunteers predominantly express a sense of achievement and motivation ultimately generated from a desire and enthusiasm to help. It helps to rebuild communities and solve serious social problems, while also helping to improve volunteers’ physical and mental health. It enhances social support networks and buffers the impact of stress. Family volunteering leads children to a new appreciation of other family members, sparks meaningful conversation and builds stronger family bonds.
The Website : www.VolunteeringinAmerica.gov. has given a comprehensive information on volunteering in U.S. According to them nearly 1.6 million more volunteers served in 2009 than in 2008. Atotal of 63.4 million volunteers contributed 8.1 billion hours of service in 2009, equaling an estimated value of approximately $169 billion. According to Brian Williams, executive director of Hands on Nashville-www.hon.org- their organization also experienced a record growth by managing or referring 38,060 volunteers to serve with 454 entities, making a $23 million economic impact through human captal.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy is an effort or inclination to improve the well-being of humankind, as by giving charitable aid or donations to orphanages and other underprivileged people who need help. Donations are dedicated to a narrowly defined cause, often targeted to effect recognizable changes in social condition. Kevin Dean in “World Affair Blog Network” said, “Philanthropy is a major part of the real Indian culture; India is a big throbbing heart.” However it is sad to see that the burgeoning middle class, upper class and particularly the younger generation throwing away these values. Today’s youth in India have become wealth-obsessed like none other, and they are not ashamed to flaunt their wealth. In India there is such a contrast between rich and poor, and there is such a contempt for poverty.
• In USA: The Gates foundation is the wealthiest charitable institution in the world, with $35.2 billion in assets as of March 31, 2010.
• In India: According to Arpan Sheth of Bain & Co., India leads other developing countries in charitable giving, although it lags developed countries in charitable giving. According to Sheth, India’s charitable giving is $7.5 billion in 2009, or 0.6% of India’s GDP. This compares to China’s 0.1% and of US’s 2.2% of GDP. Bain’s research shows nearly 40% of India’s wealth is controlled by the top 5% Indian households. However, he found that “giving does not necessarily rise with income and education.” The wealthiest have the lowest level of giving. There are several factors that constrain giving in India.
a) Donors believe that support networks are not professionally managed and are afraid that their contributions would not be put to good use - or are at risk of being misappropriated.
b) Personal giving and corporate social responsibility initiatives are blurred.
c) The current tax deduction structure in India does not encourage charitable donations.
d) It takes about 50 to 200 years for philanthropic markets to mature. Legal and tax structures and non-profit groups are at their infancy.
Sheth mentioned that are only 500 charities in India, which are large enough to be effective. Considering that 40% (400 million) of people in India live below the poverty line, he argues that charities need to be more professionally run with proper staff and operating transparently so that more people will contribute.
• Philanthropy & Indian Corporations: Indian corporations contribute only 10% to the general pool as compared to US corporations contributing 21%.
1. Mukesh Ambani is setting up a new foundation with an initial capital of Rs. 5 billion ( $ 108.7 millions)
2. Generations of Tatas have sustained a tradition of bequeathing much of their personal wealth to the many trusts they have created for the greater good of India and its people. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the larger Tata Trusts, has established six pioneering institutions of national importance, one of which is the famous Tata Memorial Centre of Cancer Research and Treatment.
3. Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust was established in 1941 with an initial corpus of Rs. 500,000
4. Post-independence, the K.C. Mahindra Trust was found in 1953 to promote literacy and higher learning.
5. AMM Foundation was set up by Murugappa Group in 1953.
6. The late 50s and 60s saw many family trusts being established. The Birlas, Lala Shri Ram, Sarabhais, Mafatlals also contributed significantly to institution building and initiating development programs.
7. K.C. Mahindra Education Trust which has been in existence since 1953 was created to donate for the cause of the girl child.
8. In 1996 two of India’s flagship companies, Infosys Technologies and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, set up their Foundations. Reddy Lab. in the area of Livelihoods, where as Infosys focuses on education, health care, rural development, arts and culture.
9. In 2001 Aziz Premji Foundation was established to reach out to over 2.5 million children in more than 20,000 schools across India.
10. The last couple of years have seen leading Indian companies Bharti, Gujarat Ambuja Group, JK Group, SRF Ltd and others taking up scaling initiatives.
11. ICICI Foundation committed 1% of profit (Rs.555 million) to Education, health, financial inclusion, civil society and environment.
Azim Premji, Chairman Wipro Corporation in a recent address said “In a country such as ours, achieving quality education is an extremely challenging task and it becomes imperative for the three critical stakeholders-the government, civil society organizations and the corporate sector, to work together in unison to face this challenge.”
“Indian Philanthropy Forum is a great platform to help shift perception of non-profits amongst our peers. We need to start being strategic and generous in giving. We must raise the bar significantly on what is expected of our generation” said Nisaba Godrej.
“As people become financially successful, there is a desire to give back” said Raj Sharma a private wealth adviser at Merrill Lynch. “India is a land of million causes. It’s got great riches. It’s got great glamour. It’s also got grinding poverty.”
Forbes magazine is their article dated March 2010 on “Asian Philanthropist” listed 48 Philanthropist- only following four Indians made the list- all being women.
a) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CEO of Biocon corp.
b) Anu Aga, CEO OF Thermax.
c) Kiran Nadar, wife of Shiv Nadar of HCL technology.
d) Rohini Nilekani wife of Infosys co-founder, Nandan Nilekani.
• American Indian Foundations in USA started by Indian born immigrants. Several Indians have started foundations to help people in India and/or in USA. To name the few:
i. Al Kapoor and wife, Alisa Taylor, raised $275,000 to help rickshaw drivers buy their own vehicles.
ii. Shrewsbury-based Next Generation Foundation was formed to eradicate illiteracy and poverty amongst India’s youths.
iii. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which feeds nearly 1 million schoolchildren in India.
iv. Prashant H Fadia Foundation and Deshpande Foundation donated $500,000 to Peabody Essex museum in Salem to triple its gallery space for Indian art.
v. Desai Family Foundation in Burlington donated large amount to causes here and in India.
James House of The University of Michigan research center discovered that volunteering, more than any other activities increase life expectancy.
Kirk Douglas: “I’ve learned that you can’t know how to live until you know how to give.”
Robert Browning: “Depression is caused by thinking too much of yourself. Try to think of others, try to help them, this lessens your depression.”
When you volunteer it means you give yourself without any regression, without condition but with full devotion. By F. Tomaquin.
Volunteers are seldom paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are PRICELESS. By Jan Baker.
Glossary of additional related terms:
Benevolent: Intending or showing kindness.
Charitable: Full of love and generosity.
Community Outreach Programs: Act of reaching out to the underprivileged.
Humanitarian: Someone concerned with the interest and welfare of humans.
Human rights: Basic rights like rights to life, liberty and freedom of thoughts and expression and in whose exercise a government may not interfere.
Human welfare and social reforms: something that aids or promotes wellbeing.
References:
1) http://www.asianphilanthropyform.org/2010.
2) http://www.asianphilanthropyform.org/india.
3) http://www.asianphilanthropyform.org/ State of Indian Philanthropy.
4) http://www.dasra.org.
5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteerism.
6) http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/resources.
7) http://www.getinvolved.gov/newsroom/press/factsheet_health.asp.
8) http://cas.umke.edu/casww/sa/Volunteerism.htm.
9) Volunteerism: Benefits, Incidence, Organizational Models, and Participation in the Public Sector
by: Richard Young, University of South Carolina.
10) http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy.
11) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism.
12) www.volunteeringinAmerica.gov
13) www.honnashville.gov ( Hands on Nashville)
