The Effects of International Volunteering on Community-based Engagement in Canada​
La relation entre le volontariat à l'étranger et le volontariat communautaire
Results from a recently completed research project led by Rebecca Tiessen of the University of Ottawa and Benjamin Lough of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Chapaign shed light on the contributions of international volunteers upon return in their local communities as well as transformations in life paths and global citizenship identities.
International volunteering is widely cited as a valuable opportunity for enhancing civic engagement, cross-cultural understanding, future employability, and social activism. Little is known, however, about whether these changes are linked to long-term changes in attitudes and behaviours. Previous research suggests that those who volunteer abroad are more likely to continue volunteering when they return to their home communities—though assertions about how long such engagement lasts are mixed.
To address this gap, a study involving the collection of 762 survey responses in both official languages from returned international volunteers of over 17 Volunteer Sending Organizations (VSO) that send Canadian volunteers abroad (see Full Report for more methods) was completed in 2019.
This study explores this important question by examining if changes to returned volunteers’ behaviours and attitudes are still acknowledged over time and if so, how? It aims to analyze the longer-term relationship between Canadians who have volunteered abroad and locally-engaged community volunteering, giving and activism ‘at home’ in Canada – including intercultural awareness and interaction, philanthropic intentions, and other civic and social changes.
Key Findings
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​Local volunteering increased as a direct result of international volunteering
On average survey participants volunteered internationally around three times over the course of their lives, for a total average of 38 weeks. The most common purpose for their volunteer service abroad was to enhance cross-cultural understanding, followed by skills transfer or capacity development in the hosting community.
Around half of returned international volunteers believed that interest in local volunteering increased as a direct result of volunteering abroad. Respondents also reported volunteering in Canada more often after serving abroad.
Among returned international volunteers that participated in the survey, 61% of respondents participated in some form of formal volunteer work in Canada in the past 12 months; 138 hours over 17 weeks on average. By comparison, according to results from the 2013 GVP, only 44% of people, aged 15 years and older, participated in some form of formal volunteer work in Canada in the past 12 months.
Comparing these findings with the population survey suggests that returned international volunteers are more likely than the general Canadian population to volunteer in Canada. While these alumni volunteered for both domestic and international causes, engagement with domestic Canadian issues was far more common.
It is noteworthy that 11% of respondents indicated that their interest in volunteering domestically existed long before their experience abroad and has not changed as a result.
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It is common for returned international volunteers to continue supporting the host community or organization after their return to Canada.
Among returned international volunteers, 38% reported providing technical or financial support to one or more of the host community(ies) or organization(s) abroad within the past year.
Although nearly the same percentage of people donated to a charitable organization, 80% of returned international volunteers compared to 82% of the general Canadian population, the average annual amount of the donations per donor was higher for returned volunteers ($1,176) compared to the general Canadian population in 2013 ($531).
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Overall, returned international volunteers are quite satisfied with their international volunteer experience and the vast majority agreed that volunteering with the IVCO was a transformational experience.
On a scale of 1-10, where 10 equals highly satisfied, the average rating across respondents (aggregated across up to three IVCOs) was 8.11 and 77% of respondents agreed that the international volunteering with the IVCO was a “transformational experience” (including 58% who strongly agreed).
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The most common response (22%) as to how their life changed positively or negatively as a result of the volunteer experience referred to career or academic impacts, including enhanced or reinforced motivation to work or volunteer in a related field, and decisions to alter career or academic paths towards a relevant discipline.
"Five years after returning from Nigeria, I changed my career direction from applied science to the social sciences and, a few years after that, had an opportunity to begin working in international development as a consultant for CIDA. Had I not worked with CUSO earlier on, I would likely not have been able to make this shift to working in international development."
A large portion of participants (20%) felt that their experience abroad gave them enhanced intercultural understanding and communication capabilities, making them more open and empathetic toward others globally and locally, including refugees and migrants.
"[My leadership style developed, I became aware of my strengths and the challenges I face, I got to know myself, to challenge myself. I also developed more empathy and realized that I was not as open to diversity as I thought. This experience allowed me to confront my ideas and learn to suspend judgment. I have also developed invaluable communication and teamwork skills.]"
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Returned volunteers experience positive changes in their intercultural interactions and how they see global assistance.
Reflecting back on their international volunteer experience, 84% agree that they now have more friends, acquaintances, or contacts who live in other countries. Three out of four believed that volunteering abroad increased their desire to socialize with someone of another racial or ethnic group (not specifically international populations). Likewise, 78% agreed that they now interact more frequently with people from different racial, cultural, ethnic or language backgrounds.
Around 65% of respondents agreed that helping people in other countries became a higher priority in their life after volunteering abroad; a similar percentage agreed that they became more involved with international humanitarian or development projects. Around 70% agreed that they are an advocate for increasing Canada’s foreign aid spending.
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Poverty awareness and empathic understanding of returned international volunteers increased.
Around 91% of participants believed that volunteering abroad increased their understanding of the reasons for poverty and marginalization. For most respondents, this pattern also followed their degree of empathy; nearly 82% agreed that volunteering abroad increased their empathy towards people who suffer socially or economically.
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The experiences international volunteers had abroad often ignited interests in domestic volunteering.
In this study, about 7 out of 10 respondents believed that their international volunteer experience “probably” or “definitely” increased their belief that they can make change in their local community. For some, exposure and a heightened understanding of social and economic issues abroad enabled them to look at Canada with the same lens and acknowledge the multitude of development issues that exist domestically. With experience in international development, these individuals expressed feelings of motivation, responsibility, confidence and capability to use their experience to address issues related to Indigenous communities, multiculturalism, poverty and immigrants and refugees in Canada.
"[Being around people who are so committed to their community despite the difficulties of their country energizes me every time. It also makes me aware that democracy and our freedom are fragile and that we must commit to protecting them.]"
For many respondents, their international experience stimulated a greater interest and understanding of issues in Canada. Nearly 8 out of 10 respondents agreed that they now think more about social and economic problems in Canada and how they might be solved. Likewise, 60% reported that they became more interested in being a part of their local community in Canada, and 56% agreed that helping people in Canada became a higher priority in their life after volunteering abroad. As for behaviours, 61% agreed that their experience volunteering abroad increased their participation in cultural, environmental or leisure activities in Canada.
Along with changes to domestic engagement and participation, it was important to compare whether domestic/international helping priorities may have also shifted. Findings indicate that international volunteering was only slightly more efficacious at strengthening respondents’ priorities for helping people abroad (62% agreed) compared to helping people in Canada (56% agreed). Among respondents that agreed, however, their priority to help people in other countries was felt more strongly.
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Returned international volunteers are advocates for social issues.
Three in four respondents believed their international volunteer experience "likely" or "definitely" influenced their engagement in advocacy for a social issue or cause. As a behavioural indicator, 62% of respondents agreed that they have joined efforts to promote social or economic development since returning home. About half of respondents increased their participation in fundraising to address a social problem or injustice after their return from volunteering abroad. As one receptacle for their fundraising efforts, 29% participated in raising money for, or on behalf of, the IVCO that sent them abroad. As a final measure of personal activism – less public than the other forms – 68% of returned volunteers agreed that they reduced their consumption of resources as a direct result of their international volunteer experience
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Returned international volunteers are global citizens.
We asked respondents the degree to which they agree with the statement, “I now see myself as a ‘global citizen’”. In response, 82% of respondents agreed – with 63% strongly agreeing.
"[My perspective on social issues at the local level has also changed, in part, due to international volunteering. I feel a greater sense of solidarity and connection between nations. The realization that all our actions, small as they may be, can contribute to improving a situation. Also, the wealth of experience and sense of accomplishment that I gained from these volunteer experiences inspires me to continue my involvement.]"
Concluding thoughts
This study brings together two important forms of civic engagement (international volunteering and local volunteering), demonstrating the connection between them and also contributes to improved knowledge about diverse program modalities of international volunteering and their impacts on community engagement, volunteering and giving in Canada.
The findings from this study support the assumption that international volunteering contributes to greater volunteer participation at home and highlight the value of international volunteering for the promotion of Canadian volunteering and giving as well as civic and participatory values in local communities. International volunteering is linked to significant forms of local civic participation, volunteering and giving and is considered to have long-term and wide-spread benefits for a strong Canadian civil society and active citizenship engagement within Canada.
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Furthermore, the findings from this study suggest that returned volunteers are far more likely than the average Canadian citizen to participate in some form of formal volunteer work in Canada. Comparisons within this study between the 2013 General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (GVP) and International Volunteer Service (IVS) provide insights into enhanced civic engagement, volunteering and giving. However, direct comparisons across datasets cannot be drawn as a result of differences in survey design, dates of data collection, and collection and weighting procedures. Future census data collection including questions of international volunteering as one variable would enable reliable analyses of global/local volunteering dimensions and connections.