Propellant for National Propellant for National Spirit and Social Spirit and Social Development ---Development ---Volunteerism in Volunteerism in

ShanghaiShanghai

Su, Songxing Su, Songxing Research FellowResearch Fellow

Shanghai Population and Development Research Shanghai Population and Development Research CenterCenter

• 2008:2008: Registered volunteers Registered volunteers

(national): 2.946 millions(national): 2.946 millions Registered volunteers Registered volunteers

(Shanghai): 2 millions(Shanghai): 2 millions

• 1978-2006:1978-2006: Chinese GDP grew at 15.6% on Chinese GDP grew at 15.6% on

averageaverage• 2005-2008:2005-2008: The number of registered The number of registered

volunteers grew at 24% on volunteers grew at 24% on averageaverage

• The growth rate of volunteers The growth rate of volunteers much larger than that of GDPmuch larger than that of GDP

(1)(1)

Social background of Social background of emergence of emergence of volunteerismvolunteerism

The volunteerism in China The volunteerism in China

developed under the background developed under the background of social changes and institutional of social changes and institutional reform. The reform means a reform. The reform means a transformation from the planned transformation from the planned economy to market economy, economy to market economy, which unavoidably brought about which unavoidably brought about great changes in social structure, great changes in social structure, organizational function, cultures organizational function, cultures and behavior patterns.and behavior patterns.

Currently, volunteerism plays a Currently, volunteerism plays a more important role in more important role in enhancing public morality. It enhancing public morality. It has been a crucial part in has been a crucial part in ShanghaiShanghai’’s social security s social security system. The mobilization system. The mobilization mechanism of volunteerism is a mechanism of volunteerism is a key component in mobilization key component in mobilization system for social emergence.system for social emergence.

Seen from trends of modern Seen from trends of modern social development, market social development, market activities, government activities, government activities and volunteerism are activities and volunteerism are three essential supporting three essential supporting pillars in the administration of pillars in the administration of city. Shanghai, as a developed city. Shanghai, as a developed area and frontier of reform in area and frontier of reform in China provides opportunities China provides opportunities for volunteerismfor volunteerism’’s further s further development.development.

(2)(2)

Developmental process of Developmental process of volunteerism in volunteerism in

ShanghaiShanghai

The development of The development of volunteerism in Shanghai can volunteerism in Shanghai can be divided into two stages by be divided into two stages by the establishment of Shanghai the establishment of Shanghai Volunteerism Association.Volunteerism Association.

Stage one: before 1997Stage one: before 1997Stage two: after 1997Stage two: after 1997

  

At present, the development of At present, the development of volunteerism in Shanghai, volunteerism in Shanghai, compared to it in developed compared to it in developed countries, is still in the initial countries, is still in the initial stage. There exists some problems stage. There exists some problems in functional positioning, in functional positioning, organizational mechanism, organizational mechanism, operational mechanism, and operational mechanism, and public policies related to public policies related to development of volunteerism.development of volunteerism.

(3)(3)

Institutional structure of Institutional structure of Volunteer organizationsVolunteer organizations

Main Main functions of Shanghai functions of Shanghai Volunteer Assocation:Volunteer Assocation: Regulate and guide volunteerism work,Regulate and guide volunteerism work, Coordinate among various volunteer Coordinate among various volunteer

teams, teams, Launch important volunteerism Launch important volunteerism

projects and social security measures,projects and social security measures, Oversee volunteer work generally such Oversee volunteer work generally such

as recruitment, registration, training, as recruitment, registration, training, evaluation and award. evaluation and award.

Shanghai Volunteer Association Shanghai Volunteer Association is led by a council which is is led by a council which is composed of honorary president, composed of honorary president, president, vice president, president, vice president, secretary general, vice secretary secretary general, vice secretary general, and several members of general, and several members of council. A secretariat is in council. A secretariat is in charge of daily work. The council charge of daily work. The council members could be government members could be government leaders, entrepreneurs, leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artists, philanthropists, artists, celebrities and normal citizens.celebrities and normal citizens.

Shanghai Volunteer Association is Shanghai Volunteer Association is managed at the city level, district managed at the city level, district level, and street level. Its network level, and street level. Its network reaches four levels: City’s association, reaches four levels: City’s association, branches, units, and service teams.branches, units, and service teams.

StatisticsStatistics– Professional volunteer team: over Professional volunteer team: over

2020– Service Unit: 722Service Unit: 722– Volunteer service team: 41,000Volunteer service team: 41,000

Main tasks of Shanghai Youth Main tasks of Shanghai Youth Volunteerism Direction Center:Volunteerism Direction Center:

Recruitment of youth volunteersRecruitment of youth volunteersTrainingTrainingAllocation of volunteers for the big Allocation of volunteers for the big

eventseventsOrganize activities serving societyOrganize activities serving societyEvaluation and award of excellent Evaluation and award of excellent

volunteersvolunteersPublicityPublicityFund raisingFund raising

(4)(4)

Expansion of Expansion of volunteerism contentvolunteerism content

  

Services provided by Services provided by Shanghai volunteers Shanghai volunteers reflected in three aspects:reflected in three aspects:

Regular community serviceRegular community service Volunteer services in large social Volunteer services in large social

eventsevents Professional volunteer servicesProfessional volunteer services

(5)(5)

Legislation on VolunteerismLegislation on Volunteerism

  

The problems and obstacles The problems and obstacles in volunteerism of Shanghai: in volunteerism of Shanghai:

Becoming a mere formality, Becoming a mere formality, Lacking of regulations, Lacking of regulations, An utilitarian tendency, An utilitarian tendency, The confusion between public good The confusion between public good

and private good of programs, and private good of programs, The blurry roles of government in The blurry roles of government in

volunteerism.volunteerism.

• Perfect the public policy on Perfect the public policy on volunteerism through legislation, volunteerism through legislation,

• Obtain public financial support for Obtain public financial support for recruitment, project and facilities, recruitment, project and facilities,

• Obtain diversified investment Obtain diversified investment (support) for volunteerism and (support) for volunteerism and absorb social resources to promote absorb social resources to promote volunteerism by innovative ideas,volunteerism by innovative ideas,

• Establish assessment and incentive Establish assessment and incentive systems to expand volunteer teams.systems to expand volunteer teams.

So far, Shanghai Volunteerism Ordinance has been drafted. Shanghai People’s Congress is holding symposiums to explain to the public and listen to suggestions from society. Shanghai will develop volunteerism in accordance with law to maintain a healthy and sustainable development.

(6)(6)

Road Selection for the Road Selection for the Development of Development of

VolunteerismVolunteerism

  

Operational Goals of Shanghai volunteer Operational Goals of Shanghai volunteer organizationsorganizations

• Improve its function and structure so as to Improve its function and structure so as to

raise efficiency.raise efficiency.• Train more volunteer workers and keep Train more volunteer workers and keep

volunteerism socially accepted.volunteerism socially accepted.• Expand service field and keep Expand service field and keep

volunteerism operated on the base of volunteerism operated on the base of programs. programs.

• Improve professional level and innovation Improve professional level and innovation mechanisms.mechanisms.

• Integrate social resources and encourage Integrate social resources and encourage more people to participate.more people to participate.

• Make supporting policies and make Make supporting policies and make volunteerism sustainable.volunteerism sustainable.

Strategies for the development Strategies for the development of volunteerism in Shanghai:of volunteerism in Shanghai:

Break through the shackles of Break through the shackles of system,system,

Advance the social operation,Advance the social operation, Develop functional platforms,Develop functional platforms, Actualize long-term effects.Actualize long-term effects.

Closing RemarksClosing Remarks

In the Chinese modernization In the Chinese modernization process, the development of process, the development of volunteerism reflects the goal volunteerism reflects the goal of social development which is of social development which is “people-oriented”, and has “people-oriented”, and has been a great propellant for the been a great propellant for the national spirit and social national spirit and social development.development.

Thanks!Thanks!