Non profit
Spain: Getting old? Become a volunteer
A study carried out by the University of Barcelona has found that elderly volunteers are on the increase, and are encouraging NGOs to take advantage of their wealth of knowledge and good health
di Staff
Since its creation 20 years ago, a Spanish organisation called Secot has provided expert advice to more than 300 NGOs and 1,500 small to medium sized enterprises in matters as diverse as project evaluation, management strategy and the use of new technologies. What makes this volunteering organisation special is that Secot stands for ?Spanish seniors for technical cooperation?; it is run by retirees who have decided to put the knowledge they gained during their careers in business to good use.
In the Anglo-Saxon world the contribution of volunteering pensioners to the social economy has long been known. In Spain, third age volunteers are just beginning to gain recognition. A study carried out by the University of Barcelona and the University of Rovira i Virgili has discovered that the elderly take an active, voluntary, role in social enterprises, cultural organisations and social assistance.
The study found that most older volunteers take part in volunteering because it makes them feel useful and they are happy to be of service to others. None of the interviewees said they did it to get away from unhappy situations at home or to forget about sad things in their lives. On the other hand some complained that the volunteering often became an obligation, and that work hours and transport posed some limits to what they could do.
The study found that 70% of third age volunteers in Spain were men, 60% of them were retired and married with an average age of 68. Perhaps one of the most surprising finds was the high level of education that the volunteers were found to have, despite their age. In Spain only 4% of elderly people have University degrees, but according to the study, 87% elderly volunteers had ?A? level education or higher.
The political implications of this study, say the professors in charge of the research, Montserrat Celdrán and Feliciano Villar, are important as we all know that the population is aging and there are more and more healthy elderly people around. The study aims to encourage organisations to take advantage of the expertise and free time that elderly people have.
More info:
Secot
Amigos de los Mayores
Asvol
Grupo de Investigación en Gerontología de la Universidad de Barcelona
