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This is something that we should generally keep in mind, especially when wondering why our community ties are fraying and why youth are apathetic about their surroundings. Maybe the simple answer to these questions is that we don’t invest enough in teaching others to understand that they do have meaningful relationships with the rest of the community, whether or not they recognize the existence of those relationships. Perhaps the key to reviving our commitment to our communities is reminding each other that we do have a sense of agency, that we can in fact make a difference by doing little things on a long-term basis and that, in giving, we receive.
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Writer Profile
R Kahendi
The opportunity to learn from people from different walks of life has opened my eyes to the larger problems affecting us all.
I enjoy doing creative writing, poetry, and pieces on social issues. You can read some of my writing on my weblogs: KAHENDI'S BLOG, Ouagadougou's Weblog and Kahendi's Korner
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Comments
private community Melissa Leigh Snowden | Jul 5th, 2008
Hi Kahendi, it seems easier for community members to start volunteering by obligation, so they understand the duties of being helpful citizens. Then they seem to empathize for their efforts, and philanthropy takes over obligation. In my community, I see very tight-knit families and cliques. These are people outside of organizations and institutions. I wish that these groupings would go out together en masse to make a difference by volunteering. I can't understand why they take from arts and cultural resources and education + don't give back besides with money as consumers.
I volunteer with a very small "gallery" of Holocaust art, and I love the fact that families come in. But besides interest, I wonder what more they think to contribute. I, too, appreciate the way that religion/spirituality encourages people to "be their brother's keeper" and keep up a group network of volunteerism and philanthropy from Judaism to Christianity to Islam. Thanks.
Great ideas! R Kahendi | Jan 12th, 2012
Thanks for that well-thought out response, Melissa. I do agree with you. I like the idea of families volunteering as a unit. Maybe if religious communities promote volunteering, we will see more of that (as people tend to attend church/ mosque/ synagogue/ temple as families). I am aware that some nations institute a form of national youth service for youth during their gap year (between high school and college). It's not exactly volunteering and it isn't private community, but it does inculcate in the youth who participate social/ civic responsibility. Maybe that is one of the ways to go?
Great ideas! R Kahendi | Jan 12th, 2012
Thanks for that well-thought out response, Melissa. I do agree with you. I like the idea of families volunteering as a unit. Maybe if religious communities promote volunteering, we will see more of that (as people tend to attend church/ mosque/ synagogue/ temple as families). I am aware that some nations institute a form of national youth service for youth during their gap year (between high school and college). It's not exactly volunteering and it isn't private community, but it does inculcate in the youth who participate social/ civic responsibility. Maybe that is one of the ways to go?
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