Harnessing the volunteering spirit from the Tsunami

Posted by Jennifer Doyle on February 22nd, 2005 at 01:20pm

In the aftermath of the Tsunami, after the media has left Asia, and the reconstruction has begun, what next? When such a monumentous level of community and global consciousness has been obtained how can international charities keep that donor spirit alive and engaged? While our focus has been to think of these new found supporters as donors, I suggest stewarding them for a parallel purpose, as potential volunteers.

Take for instance an example from Japan. A deadly earthquake shattered Kobe, Japan about ten years ago. Leaving in the dust and debris a society that was left having to cope with delays in relief operations. The citizens themselves distraught, but still, were willing to take action.

According to an article by Takehiko Kambayash, on the World Volunteer Web site:

Spurred by delays in official relief operations following the Jan. 17, 1995, earthquake, Japanese citizens flocked to help out. Over the next year, about 1.38 million people gave their time to getting the city get back on its feet - an unprecedented outpouring for a country where, unlike the US, there is no tradition of volunteerism.

Volunteer and citizens’ groups also began to spring up throughout Japan. Now, experts say, volunteerism has woven itself into more people’s lives.

“The changes that volunteerism has brought to our society is enormous,” says Takeshi Jitsuyoshi, who helped in Kobe after the disaster. The wave of volunteerism, he adds, “has slowly given rise to a quiet revolution in the country.”

If a society with no concept of volunteering was able to flourish with the volunteering spirit from the rubble of a disaster, thinking on those lines, it should be possible to engage volunteers after the Tsunami disaster. Whether this could be initiated directly in the countries affected, or even outside of that area, where people have stretched their dollars to help out, perhaps they will be willing to stretch out their hand to help as well? Keeping your supporters active will ultimately help to build your donor base.

When approaching your new donors to renew their gifts it is important to also offer them the opportunity to volunteer.

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