Conclusion on volunteers in FDF

Sub-conclusion on external volunteers

The external volunteers all describe how overwhelming it was becoming a volunteer in FDF due to many traditions and certain ways of doing things, but they do not express any frustrations, they just try to adapt. They learn how to act in FDF by observing the other volunteers and they develop necessary competencies and adopt certain attitudes towards FDF, but sometimes they have difficulties explaining them, when asked further about it.

Youtube video with the founding of Red Cross, which told us about the history.

The first meeting with URK was very grassroots like but still well defined…”

She recalls her memories as a new volunteer in URK:

“It was very difficult to understand the entire structure and there was this par-ticular language in the organisation. You only talk in abbreviations so it’s kind of a new language you have to learn. I had to read a lot before I felt I could contribute with more than I learned.”

“Maybe it took a year or so, but then I couldn’t let go of it anymore because I had become an URK’er and not just someone who wanted to gain cool expe-rience and get to travel and stuff like that. I felt it was a small sect… totally indoctrinated (laughs).”

When the respondent is asked what she has gained from URK she answers:

”You have been given some responsibility. You grow with the task. You are taken seriously and your actions have a consequence. It’s very basic learning. It is very professional I would say… I have been strengthened in relation to my work… the approach is applicable in the labour market. I have met some nice friends and some ambitious people whom I share interests and visions for our society with.”

“It was really important to do something which meant something or which had a greater purpose than just studying, making money or being at the gym. It adds an extra dimension to who you are or what you can contribute to society.

Being of use.”

She has gained competencies she can use in her work and has gained values such as friendship and altruism. She believes that volunteers in URK can be characterised as follows:

“In URK there are generally people who believe that you have to take care of the weakest in our society but also people who believe you have a responsibility as an active citizen, the state is not responsible for everything. It’s people whom I connect with and have some interesting discussions and conversations with.”

When asked how her opinion of URK has changed, she answers:

“My view on URK has changed a lot from being an organisation where I could receive a lot, where I could learn much, where I could enhance my CV to wan-ting to do something extra for URK and help support the organisation. I want to make a difference. URK has also become my organisation. Now it isn’t just something I am a part of; it has become part of me and me a part of it.”

The respondent describes when she will stop volunteering:

”Well, when I’m thrown out I think; probably when I’m 35. Until I’m bullied out or becomes the old one sitting in the corner at the national congress and people are saying »what is she doing here? Who is she?« then I’ll move on.”

Respondent 12

The respondent has been volunteering since 2008 and is educated in communications.

She is 30 years old. In URK, she has been engaged in HR, PR, local board work (LUR) and is currently responsible for the HR department in Copenhagen with 18 volunteers. She has only been engaged at an organisational level. Her first meeting with URK was at an information meeting for new HR volunteers. The organisational structure was the most difficult thing as a new volunteer:

“It took me a long time to figure out who the key persons were and how the organisation was built.”

She explains what she has gained from being a volunteer in URK:

“There are many good experiences and, not least, a lot of nice people. I’ve got to know so many volunteers and gained a solid social network.”

“I could definitely use some of the overall competences from work related; co-ordinating, planning projects and being a project leader.”

The respondent describes what she believes the users in URK gain from her work:

“Through courses I equip the volunteers by informing them of the structure of the organisation. Equipping them to become better volunteers and giving them competences that make them better at handling conflicts in relations to their users. Help them recruit volunteers if they need it, ease their work, make it easier to be a volunteer and hopefully that will have a positive effect on the users as well.”

When she is asked how URK has changed since she started, she answers:

“I think the organisation has changed really really much from when I started.

It was more grass roots like at that time, now it has become more professiona-lised. In good and bad because there are also some good things about it. It is more structured now from when I started.”

When she is asked how long she will continue in URK she answers:

”Maybe for another six months. Otherwise I’ll become too much of a dinosaur.”

Conclusion on organisational volunteers

The organisational volunteers have gained professional competencies and built a social network. They are very explicit about the difference URK makes to children and volunteers even though they are not directly involved in the activities. Both mention an age limit for volunteering.

6.2.2 Activity volunteers