Volunteer Capital
“It is the only form of capital that has human will as its source.”
A new and unique form of capital
Volunteering is reframed as a form of capital that enriches societies beyond monetary measures. Published in the Olympic Review, the article highlights the social and human value created by volunteers.
The article appeared in Olympic Review, Vol. XXVII, No. 42 (December 2001–January 2002), when the author was the World Bank Special Representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation.
“This is as important, and perhaps more important than many other forms of capital participating in the development process.”
Five dimensions of Human Volunteerism
Free choice and total service
First, it is the paradigm of free choice and total service. This is not a form of development where any one would want to be attached to a material commodity, including money, or to a condition that would determine the quantity or quality of the services provided.
Service to others
Second, it is the paradigm of the other (service to others) and one where the volunteers are expecting nothing in return. In addressing the other, there is a total purity of intentions.
Ethics and morals of development
Third, it is the paradigm immersed completely in the ethics and morals of development. Volunteerism has created a web of pure and effective interdependence, which goes far beyond the market.
The collective
Fourth, it is the paradigm of the collective, where individual gain is subjugated to the aims and goals of the collective body of our societies.
Human values
Finally, it is the paradigm of human values, and of the values of caring, sharing, fraternity, and many others.
Volunteers make a major economic contribution to the economy, which is now equivalent to 8–14% of global Gross National Product (GNP). These are services non-accounted for in our ways of measuring economic inputs and outputs.
Where do we go from here?
If we put together the economic, political, social and spiritual dimensions of volunteer capital several possible implications emerge:
- Rethink our strategies of development — that we, who are not always in the circle of volunteers, must rethink our strategies of development and see how can we strengthen the hands of volunteers in this process.
- Volunteers and the millennium development goals — that volunteers are crucial in the attainment of the millennium development goals.
- Invest in the non-material dimensions — we must enhance and invest in the non-material dimensions of this form of capital.
- Material and spiritual growth — when the United Nations was created, the Dumbarton Oaks Declaration identified “Seeking Freedom” as one of its most important functions. “And this was defined as creating the proper environment for both material and spiritual growth.”
In the author’s words
“There are millions of silent and non-acknowledged volunteers all over the world.”
“The volunteers have the opposite behaviour of the market.”
“Volunteers are the teachers of giving, rather than being the masters of receiving.”
“Volunteer comes from the Latin “voluntas” that means will, human will.”
“Seva is the transformational value that unites the material with the non-material levels of our human existence.”
“We cannot knit the quilt of human voluntary decisions with an old set of values.”
Download the PDF (opens in a new tab)“A major revolution in values is needed to consolidate the existence of volunteer capital.”