Project Description
Motivation is a widely researched concept for volunteering and is often associated with either altruism or egoism. However, little literature talks about the motivation and experiences of crisis volunteers in the context of the European refugee crisis. The aim of this thesis is to get a deeper understanding of the motivations and experiences of crisis volunteer workers in Greece, Lesvos looking at the European refugee crisis from the perspective of the volunteer. In addition, this thesis contributes to the categorization in the literature of volunteering with refugees, in the case of the European refugee crisis, as volunteer tourism. This is done by interviewing volunteers that went to Lesvos between 2015 and 2023 to volunteer at one of the non-governmental organizations present. The results showed that altruistic and egoistic motivations were both present in the motivation of volunteers, although the strongest motivations came from altruism. When volunteers came back from their trip, they had gone through a transformative experience resulting in new perspectives and life goals. By understanding their motivations and experiences, volunteer recruitment programs for NGOs that provide humanitarian help can be advanced in accordance with their demands, enhancing the volunteer experience.
Author: I. Hesselink (2023)
