Challenges of volunteerism within a cultural community: Case study of young Hmong adults in Kitchener-Waterloo
Author(s):
Heu, Melanie
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
M.S.W.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), 2008.
Pages:
186
Language:
English
Abstract:
Volunteering is an act of civic participation where members of a community engage in a social process of performing activities to assist in achieving a certain goal. This study looks at volunteerism in the context of a cultural voluntary organization within the Hmong community in Southern Ontario. The study presents findings of a case study conducted with young Hmong adult members about their perspectives of volunteering within a non-profit organization, which incorporates three generations of members. The study reveals intergenerational and cross-cultural challenges and discusses how these challenges impact the volunteer experiences of the participants. The study advances our knowledge of volunteerism among minority populations in the context of their cultural communities and informs society of the experiences that may need to be considered when developing strategies to increase volunteer participation within Canadian society.