Running International Development Projects as a Volunteer-led Organization
Author
Kjelgaard, Lea Binta
Term
4. term
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-05-30
Pages
41
Abstract
Baptist Union of Denmark (BUD) er en kirkelig organisation, der i høj grad bygger på frivillige, også i internationale rehabiliterings- og udviklingsprojekter i lande som Burundi og Rwanda. Det skaber en central udfordring: at organisere arbejdet og sætte rammer uden at svække de frivilliges motivation og engagement. Specialet undersøger derfor BUDs organisatoriske opbygning og hvordan den påvirker motivationen blandt de internationale frivillige. Analysen anvender Burns og Stalkers teori om organisationsledelse (særligt ideen om en organisk, fleksibel struktur frem for en fastlåst, bureaukratisk) og Clary m.fl.s teori om frivilliges motivationer. Datagrundlaget omfatter interne dokumenter om BUDs internationale projekter, bogen When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor or Yourself samt to interviews med tidligere internationale frivillige. Resultatet er, at BUD arbejder på en organisk og fleksibel måde, som understøtter motivationen og skaber stærkt engagement. Motivationerne er forankret i fælles kristne værdier og overbevisninger samt i den sociale anseelse, der følger med at være frivillig i BUD. De frivillige får stor frihed og autonomi, hvilket giver læring, mulighed for at bruge deres kompetencer og personlig udvikling, der styrker trivsel. Da internationale frivillige ofte har familien med, er det vigtigt at motivere hele familien; arbejdet er krævende og uden faste arbejdstider, så arbejde, fritid og familieliv flyder sammen. Selv om de frivillige opnår erfaringer, der kan bruges i en senere karriere, er hovedvægten på altruisme frem for egeninteresse. Det krævende og altruistiske miljø fremmer meget dedikerede frivillige.
The Baptist Union of Denmark (BUD) is a church organization that relies largely on volunteers, including for international rehabilitation and development projects in countries such as Burundi and Rwanda. This raises a core challenge: how to organize work and set frameworks without undermining volunteers’ motivation and commitment. This thesis examines BUD’s organizational setup and how it shapes motivation among international volunteers. The analysis draws on Burns and Stalker’s organizational management theory (especially the idea of an organic, flexible structure rather than a rigid, bureaucratic one) and Clary et al.’s theory of volunteer motivations. Sources include internal documents on BUD’s international projects, the book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor or Yourself, and two interviews with former international volunteers. Findings show that BUD works in an organic and flexible way that helps sustain motivation and strong commitment. Motivations are rooted in shared Christian values and beliefs, as well as in the social recognition associated with volunteering for BUD. Volunteers are given substantial freedom and autonomy, enabling learning, the use of skills, and personal development that supports well-being. Because international volunteers often bring their families, keeping the whole family motivated is important; the work is demanding and, without fixed hours, work, leisure, and family life tend to blend together. While volunteers gain experience that can benefit later careers, the overall emphasis is on altruism rather than self-interest. This demanding and altruistic context fosters very dedicated volunteers.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
Keywords
Documents