03.12.2021

According to Darya Kislitsyna, CEO of the Regional Programmes Department at the Expert Institute for Social Research (EISR), there are more than three million registered volunteers in Russia. She attributes this growth in numbers to a “boom in social initiatives from below and support from the State”.

An online survey conducted by Rambler and Co from 25 November to 1 December revealed that more than a third of respondents (35%) took part in voluntary work. A total of 1.5 million people were involved in the research study.

Volunteers most often help those in need of medical or special care (19%), children (18%), the elderly (18%), animal shelters (16%) and charities (13%).

Half of those surveyed provide pro bono services only on certain occasions or dates. For 16%, volunteering is a second job. The rest participate in voluntary work ranging from several times a week to several times a month, or year.

Five per cent volunteer in politics or help out during an emergency and 6% at sporting events.

The desire to help others is the motivation for 44%, with 24% wanting to feel they’re being useful to society. Nine per cent volunteered after having come through difficult life experiences and 3% having been influenced by the example of friends, relatives and other volunteers.

Among the reasons given for not being involved in voluntary work were a lack of time (20%), desire (21%), both at once (28%). Another 31% say they serve their communities in other ways: 44% give money to charity, 21% work in education, 14% in social care, 11% as doctors and 10% in law enforcement.

Source: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2021/12/03/opros-35-rossiyan-zanimayutsya-volonterskoj-deyatelnostyu/

Translated by Neil Hailey