Source: PYDC
Volunteering has long been an important component of community life in many countries. It is widely regarded as an important development for the country because it not only provides assistance to those in need but also demonstrates the effectiveness of the state’s social welfare system.
According to the World Giving Index 2021 Survey by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), Malaysia is ranked 29th out of over 140 countries in terms of willingness to spend time to engage in volunteerism. Meanwhile, Indonesia maintains its top ranking globally with an index of 69 per cent, up from 59 in 2018[1]. The country has the highest rates of donating and volunteering in the world.
The above benchmark demonstrates that Malaysia’s volunteerism spirit remains deficient. Profile studies on Malaysian youth also revealed that involvement in volunteerism activity is declining among university students and warrants further improvement[2].
Realising the need to harness volunteerism among the youth, the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) collaborates with strategic partners like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to introduce student exchange, training, and volunteer programs for the youth to actively participate in line with the state government’s Penang2030 vision of increasing youth, women, and seniors’ participation in community life.
Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) recruits Penang State Youth Volunteers that lead the volunteer group under the initiative of the Penang State Government. Those who wish to participate in volunteer activities can visit the PYDC website at https://pydc.com.my/en/volunteer/.
The PYDS program aims to develop a team of volunteers among Penang youths to offer volunteering services to the community. It is hoped that the aforementioned volunteering initiative will foster a strong sense of patriotism, leadership values among the youth as well as a strong connection with the local community.
Youth volunteer empowerment at the grassroots level will allow the youth to realise their potential as active citizens. Also, it helps to improve the quality of life in local municipalities and neighbourhoods, transforming the state’s social welfare system into a progressive society that contributes to national development.
Footnotes:
[1] A global pandemic special report (2021). www.cafonline.org
[2] A.N. Normah & Z.M. Lukman. (2020). Volunteerism Declined Among University Students: Why Do They Not Volunteer? International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), Vol. IV, Issue X, p.276-280. www.rsisinternational.org