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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Factors Related to Volunteerism Among Nonformal Education Volunteers in Central Thailand

(Thailand), Doctor of Philosophy in Extension Education (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

 

The study determined factors related to volunteerism among nonformal education (NFE) volunteers in Central Thailand. It also evaluated the level of volunteerism of NFE volunteers. There were 159 NFE volunteer respondents. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) computer program was used to compute data.

Most of the NFE volunteers were married male farmers and about 43 years old. Most reached secondary school level. They had less than three children and an annual family income of about 133,000 baht (USjumi = 25 baht). Their income contribution level was 26,000 baht. Most of them were affiliated with an organization. Job satisfaction ranked highest among the parameters used to evaluate level of volunteerism.

In terms of psychological factors, attitude toward NFE activities was rated by NFE volunteers as highly agreeable. On the motivational aspect, the level of volunteerism was highly motivated by the individual's desire to improve relation ships among people. Desire to improve participation of people in their own village development and desire to help people gain knowledge and skills also rated high. However, desire to help people derive higher income and to increase awareness on natural environment protection had only moderate ratings.

An analysis of the relationship between socioeconomic, demographic and psychological factors, and level of volunteerism showed that individuals who were married had a more favorable attitude toward NFE activities than those who were single. Those with children were more agreeable to NFE activities than those without. Volunteers with higher income were more motivated by their desire to help people gain knowledge and ski lls than those with lower income. Volunteers with many organizational affiliation were more motivated than nonmembers by their desire to help people improve their participation in their village development.