We are witnessing the power of association of men and women citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina around some great good. More and more often, we are witnessing selflessness and quick response in helping individuals and numerous initiatives that require special support and timeliness. This power of association and quick response breaks down all barriers and shows one big heart that beats strongly and extends a hand to a person in need, a society in need, a country that wants and can become a better, safer and more supportive place.
The project “Improving corporate responsibility for human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, financed by the European Union, encourages individuals, groups and business entities to engage in special social engagement for support and help where it is really needed. The focus is on building a responsible relationship and a society that nurtures empathy and a high degree of solidarity, promoting the true values that make us human.
What exactly is corporate volunteering?
Corporate volunteering is an organized socially responsible engagement of employees, which is planned, encouraged and supported by companies, i.e. the business sector. It is a highly commendable practice that connects businesses and the community, enabling employees to turn their regular working hours into volunteer engagement and thus contribute to building a better society, while at the same time feeling like a valuable and important member of it. Thus, employees donate their knowledge, skills and time to special organizations, starting from social institutions and organizations that provide social services, through soup kitchens, homes for healthy aging, humanitarian organizations, to initiatives and groups to support the population in the event of natural disasters, etc.
This is a very popular initiative around the world, which brings many benefits, and companies that practice corporate volunteering usually recognize the volunteer hours and days of their employees as regular, without reducing compensation or days off. Thus, a special collective social responsibility is encouraged within organizations and a sense of community that contributes to a stronger and more pleasant organizational climate and corporate culture.
Although Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a fully developed legislative framework that would recognize corporate volunteering, it is important to know that there are no legal obstacles. This has not prevented positive stories and examples in the past, in which BiH companies recognized the social importance and provided enormous support to this form of activism.
The benefits of corporate volunteering
There are three dimensions, or parties, that feel the direct effects and all the benefits of corporate volunteering: society, employees, and companies.
The entire society as a direct beneficiary of selfless support becomes stronger, more empathetic and freer in advocating and promoting social values that become the direction of current and future generations. Thus, corporate volunteering can be considered an important sustainability strategy. Volunteers actually help people in a state of need, contributing to better living conditions. Organizations and institutions that rely on volunteer help thus receive support for their projects and their further work. It is also worth noting that volunteers directly spread awareness among their circles of friends and acquaintances about the importance of this engagement and the social responsibility of individuals, which greatly creates the overall picture of the importance of corporate volunteering.
Employees, as another important actor, develop new skills as they encounter other organizational forms and structures, while at the same time feeling purpose, personal fulfillment and satisfaction. During joint volunteer activities, employees connect with each other, strengthen collegiality, and this is often reflected in later better cooperation in the workplace.
Finally, companies directly benefit from increased employee motivation and loyalty, as volunteering increases employee satisfaction, team spirit, and commitment to the organization. Corporate culture is thus enhanced through values of empathy and solidarity. Of course, all of this is reflected in external communication, as the community recognizes social responsibility and places its trust in it. Today’s consumers are increasingly turning to companies and brands that have advanced ethical standards and social responsibility as an imperative at their core.
Corporate volunteering in practice
We spoke with Ines Kavalec, founder and director of the Association of Families, Children and People with Developmental Disabilities “Give Us a Chance” from Sarajevo, about what corporate volunteering brings to our society.
“Corporate volunteering is an essential element of socially responsible business. Through it, we awaken empathy, and get to know the world around us and everything that we haven’t heard about, and that is happening in our vicinity. This form of volunteering is devoted to humanitarian goals, while high ethical principles are valued and promoted in business and private life. After corporate volunteering, we will definitely say – thank you for everything we have!”, concludes Mrs. Kavalec.
The association “Give Us a Chance” has been practicing the role of host of corporate volunteering for a long time, and proudly points out the increased interest of BiH companies and the selfless support of their employees.
How to get involved?
During a previous project, the Institute for Youth Development KULT developed a special web platform www.volontiraj.ba for systemic support of corporate volunteering. The platform connects interested parties, i.e. facilitates access and the path for companies that want to get involved, as well as associations, institutions and civil society organizations that need volunteer support.
International Volunteer Day is celebrated every December 5, and we would like to thank all volunteers for selflessly supporting society and the goals of sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina through their voluntary work.
The project “Improving Corporate Responsibility for Human Rights in BiH” is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT in partnership with the Trade and Service Workers’ Union and the Association “Give Us a Chance” .
Source: mladi.org
