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At the Service of Community Development: The Professionalization of Volunteer Work in Kenya and Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2015

Hannah Brown  and
Maia Green
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Abstract:

This article explores the changing nature of the “volunteer” as an official role within health and development interventions in East Africa. Contemporary development interventions require the engagement of volunteers to act as links between project and community. This role is increasingly professionalized within development architectures with implications for the kinds of people who can engage in volunteering opportunities. Volunteers in development interventions are likely to be drawn from public sector staff and from educated youth seeking access to positions of paid employment. Volunteering as a formal status within the organization of development programs is recognized as a kind of professional work by those seeking to engage with development organizations. Volunteers perform important work in linking development programs with beneficiaries. At the same time, volunteering provides opportunities for personal transformation.

Résumé:

Cet article explore la nature changeante du “bénévole” en tant que responsable officiel dans les interventions de santé et de développement en Afrique de l'Est. De nos jours les interventions de développement nécessitent l'engagement de bénévoles pour servir de liens entre le projet et la communauté. Ce rôle est de plus en plus professionnalisé au sein des architectures de développement avec des implications pour les personnes qui sont prêtes à s'engager dans le monde associatif. Les bénévoles dans les interventions de développement sont en général issus du secteur public et sont des jeunes éduqués cherchant à accéder à des postes de travail rémunérés. Le volontariat comme statut officiel au sein de l'organisation des programmes de développement est reconnu comme un type de travail professionnel par ceux qui cherchent à s'engager dans les organisations de développement. Les bénévoles accomplissent des tâches importantes en mettant en liaison les programmes de développement avec leurs bénéficiaires. Dans le même temps, le volontariat offre des opportunités pour se réaliser personnellement.

Keywords

VolunteeringdevelopmentworkcommunityKenyaTanzania
Type
ASR FOCUS ON VOLUNTEER LABOR IN EAST AFRICA
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , September 2015 , pp. 63 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2015 

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