Anyone who has volunteered usually says the same thing: they came away receiving more than they gave. It sounds like a cliché, but surveys confirm it. Giving time and talent changes the lives of those who receive help and also of those who help.
In this article, we show what the numbers say about volunteering in Brazil, why it does so much good and what care it requires when it comes to children in shelters.
Brazil is volunteering more
The Volunteering in Brazil survey, by IDIS with Instituto Datafolha, has followed the topic for two decades. In the 2021 edition, with interviews held between late 2021 and early 2022, the results stood out.
The share of Brazilians who volunteer or have volunteered jumped from 18% in 2001 to 25% in 2011 and reached 56% in 2021. At the time of the survey, 34% were active volunteers. That represents about 57 million people.
Another interesting figure: among volunteers with a set schedule, average dedication reached 18 hours a month.
Why people help
The main motivation reported was solidarity, cited by 74% of volunteers. Then came religious reasons, the desire to make a difference, the wish to give back something they had received and the exercise of citizenship.
And volunteering seems to deliver on its promise. Motivation remains high: 80% said they were very motivated, with an average score of 9.3 on a scale of 0 to 10. And 74% said they were completely satisfied with the experience.
What changes in those who help
The most beautiful part of the survey is what volunteers say about themselves. Here are some numbers:
- 99% agree that volunteering lets people get to know another reality;
- 97% see volunteer work as an exercise of citizenship;
- 97% consider volunteering a process of transformation;
- 96% say it inspires people to be better;
- 92% like to give part of their time to help the community.
Getting to know another reality, here, means stepping out of your own bubble. Anyone who spends a few hours at a children's shelter, a community kitchen or a neighborhood project starts to see the city differently. They better understand the problems and realize they can be part of the solution.
Volunteering with children requires care
In the survey, 25% of volunteers said they work with children and teenagers. It is an area that attracts many people, and rightly so. But when it comes to children living in shelters, volunteering needs clear rules.
These children have been through difficult situations and need stability. Casual visits, from people who show up once and never come back, can do more harm than good. That is why good volunteer work at a children's shelter usually involves:
- prior agreement with the house staff;
- a commitment to regularity, when there is contact with the children;
- absolute respect for privacy, with no photos and no posts;
- a focus on what the house needs, not on what the volunteer would like to do.
There is also a law for this. Law 9,608 of 1998 covers volunteer service and provides for a volunteer agreement between the volunteer and the organization. The survey showed that only 18% of volunteers sign this agreement. Formalizing it protects both sides.
Not all volunteering is with the children
Many people don't know it, but one of the most useful ways to volunteer is to use your profession. Accountants, lawyers, electricians, designers, cooks and teachers can help a lot without needing direct contact with the children.
You can also help from afar: sharing campaigns, organizing collections at work or school, or introducing the house to companies in your circle. In the article on ways to help beyond money, here on the blog, we share several ideas.
Want to volunteer at PROHACC?
PROHACC cares for about 18 children and teenagers in Perus, São Paulo, with no government funding agreement. On Instagram, the house often recognizes and thanks those who give their time, on dates such as National Volunteering Day, on August 28, and International Volunteer Day, on December 5.
If you want to give your time or talent, get in touch first through the channels on the website. That way we can agree on the best way for you to take part, keeping the children safe. See also the other ways to support on the How to help page.
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Sources
- IDIS and Instituto Datafolha. Volunteering in Brazil Survey 2021, digital book Volunteering in Brazil: two decades of transformation, 2022: https://www.idis.org.br/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/10/Livro-Digital-Voluntariado-no-Brasil-ENGLISH_2022.pdf
- Official survey website: https://www.pesquisavoluntariado.org.br/
- Law 9,608/1998 (volunteer service): https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9608.htm
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 12/05/2022, International Volunteer Day: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClyhewEO9E4/
- PROHACC on Instagram (@prohacccasa), post of 08/28/2024, National Volunteering Day: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_NqMq4Ogb1/