Volunteering in Central and Eastern Europe

Nagy, Ádám and Gerő, Márton (2025) Volunteering in Central and Eastern Europe. In: International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, Cham, pp. 9653-1. ISBN 9783319996752

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Abstract

In this entry, we aim to explore the specificities of volunteering in Central and Eastern Europe (especially its approaches, extent, and characteristics), mainly based on the available literature and data. There is relative agreement on the descriptive concept of volunteering. It is most often defined as an activity performed for the benefit of others without compensation (Damian 2019; Doberescu 2012; Silló 2016; Voicu and Voicu 2009), identified by four main characteristics: It is an activity that (1) is based on free will, (2) is not rewarded financially (at most by compensation or reimbursement of costs or basic needs), (3) is carried out outside the immediate circle of friends or family, and (4) is in some way, at least according to the volunteer/beneficiary, for the public good (Nagy et al. 2014). In other words, it is not considered volunteering if the workplace obliges or pressures you to perform a “voluntary activity” (lack of free will); if you are paid for the...

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