The number of volunteers keeps increasing, according to 73% of Russians. This share has tripled over eleven years.
MOSCOW, December 5, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey describing the attitudes of Russians towards volunteers and their activity.
The number of volunteers keeps increasing, according to 73% of Russians. This share has tripled over eleven years.
MOSCOW, December 5, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey describing the attitudes of Russians towards volunteers and their activity.
Most of Russians (60%), with varying degrees, are aware of the volunteering activities in their regions. At the same time, 13% say that they are interested in certain projects.
An overwhelming majority of respondents believe that the volunteer movement has extended: 73% of Russians are more involved in various volunteering activities than 10-15 years ago. This figure is steadily growing: only 24% of respondents shared this stance in 2008. The recent survey shows that only 7% of respondents think that the volunteer movement has declined.
A majority (68%) considers that the projects volunteers are involved in are important. Only 17% say that such projects are of little importance to Russia.
Russians perceive positively volunteers: 47% report positive perceptions; 14% respect them; 12% approve of their activity; 6% are thankful to them; 8% say that they do a good job. One percent of respondents have negative attitudes; 13% failed to express their opinion.
In the Russian mind, “volunteer” is mainly associated with helping other people (38%). Half of Russians (49%) consider that volunteers are driven by their desire to feel that they are useful. Other popular reasons for volunteering are “opportunity to solve personal and common problems” (30%), “desire to fulfil self-potential” (22%), “desire to live an active and interesting life” (21%).
Most of respondents (88%) are confident that the government and public bodies should help volunteers, public movements and activists form non-commercial organizations. Only 6% of Russians disagree with this stance.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik public opinion surveys were conducted from May to December, 2019. Russians aged 18 and older took part in the surveys. A total of 1,000 respondents were interviewed daily in at least 80 Russian regions till June 17, 2018. Starting from June 18, 2018, 1,600 respondents have been interviewed daily. A 7-day mean is shown. Results are based on telephone interviews. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 1% for the data collected during seven days (11,200 interviewees). In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you know about volunteering activities in your region? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| XII.19 |
I am well aware of certain projects, events | 13 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 47 |
I heard nothing | 40 |
In your opinion, are people involved in volunteering more actively today than it was 10-15 years ago? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| X.08 | XII.18 | XII.19 |
Today they do voluntary work more than before | 24 | 67 | 73 |
Today they do voluntary work less than before | 33 | 11 | 7 |
At the same level | 20 | 12 | 12 |
Don’t know | 23 | 10 | 8 |
In your opinion, do volunteers participate in the projects which are likely or unlikely to be important for people living in Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| XII.19 |
They participate in the projects which are likely to be very important for people in Russia | 68 |
They participate in the projects which are unlikely to be important for people in Russia | 17 |
Don’t know | 15 |
What emotions do you feel about people involved in volunteering? (% of respondents, open-ended question, up to 3 answers) | |
| XII.19 |
Positive | 47 |
Respect | 14 |
Approval | 12 |
They do a good job | 8 |
Thankfulness | 6 |
Neutral | 6 |
Admiration | 4 |
Pride | 4 |
Joy | 3 |
Negative | 1 |
Sympathy | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Don’t know | 13 |
What comes first to your mind when you hear the word “volunteer”? (% of respondents, open-ended question, up to 3 answers) | ||
| XII.18 | XII.19 |
Helping people/ animals/ search/ participation/ care | 42 | 38 |
Positive associations | 27 | 20 |
Free/ unconditional activity/ altruism | 17 | 18 |
Voluntarily/ help under no pressure / volunteer / initiative | 13 | 14 |
Kindness / good / sincerity/ attention / care/ love / mercy / outgoingness / openness/ responsibility | 14 | 8 |
Youth/ students/ good boys and girls/ educated | 9 | 3 |
Positive thing (in general) | 2 | 3 |
Events / activities | 2 | 3 |
Negative associations | 2 | 2 |
Active life position / activist | 1 | 2 |
Charity | 2 | 1 |
Organization / group of people/ public activity / movement / important service | 3 | 1 |
Beautification / creating green spaces | - | 1 |
Loafers/ non-workers/ plenty of free time | 2 | 1 |
Respects/ mutual understanding / admiration / pride / bravery / human decency / singlemindedness | 3 | 1 |
Promotion of something | 1 | 0 |
Soviet times / “komsomolets” / “young pioneers” / “timurovets” (members of youth organization) | 1 | 0 |
Patriots / Russia’s future | 1 | 0 |
I wish they were more numerous | 1 | 0 |
None | 1 | 1 |
Other | 3 | 4 |
Don’t know | 10 | 14 |
In your opinion, why do people participate in volunteering? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of respondents) | ||
| XII.18 | XII.19 |
Desire to feel they are useful | 46 | 49 |
Opportunity to solve their own problems and the problems of other people | 29 | 30 |
Desire to fulfil their potential and initiatives | 20 | 22 |
Desire to live an active and interesting life | 23 | 21 |
Desire to get new friends | 20 | 20 |
Desire to make their own vision, values come true | 13 | 14 |
Desire to get additional experience, skills | 15 | 13 |
Desire to get professional experience | 15 | 12 |
Opportunity to get new connections | 10 | 8 |
Getting incentives (invitation for events, trips, etc.) | 9 | 7 |
Don’t know | 6 | 6 |
In your opinion, should the government and public bodies hep volunteers, public movements and activists from non-profit organizations in solving the key problems related to their activities? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| XII.19 |
Rather yes | 88 |
Rather no | 6 |
Don’t know | 6 |