Presentation of Book
Anthony M. Abela. 2001. Youth Participation in Voluntary Organisations
in Malta, A comparative analysis of European Values Studies. Malta:
Parliamentary Secretariat, Ministry of Education. 140 pp.
This book brings together three interrelated papers in youth studies.
It complements comparative data analyses of the European Values Study and
a national youth survey, with an in-dept study of life histories of young
Catholic adults.
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The first chapter examines changing voluntary activities of young
people over the past fifteen years in a comparative European perspective,
in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, new lifestyles, shifts in
values and solidarity towards people in need.
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The second chapter is concerned with deviant behaviour and accounts
for the unconventional lifestyles of young people with social problems.
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The final chapter traces the similar origins but also the multiple
destinations of young Catholics in contemporary Malta. On this basis, an
international study of life histories discusses the emergence of new Catholic
identities for the society of the future.
Main findings on Youth Participation in Voluntary Activities:
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There are significant differences over membership and voluntary work of
young adults in old and new style organisations and activities. Membership
and unpaid voluntary work in social organisations varies by gender, age,
marital status, occupations, geographical regions and levels of education.
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Younger respondents in Malta report lower rates of belonging but
significantly higher rates of unpaid work in voluntary organisations than
their European counterparts. In Malta, a higher percentage of younger respondents
do unpaid work for youth projects, welfare, health, local community action,
Third World development or human rights, women’s groups and peace movements
than actually belong to the corresponding organisations.
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In Malta, over a period of fifteen years, young people’s membership
has increased considerably in trade unions, sports, health, local community
action, Third World development and other groups but dropped in most other
traditional organisations including church and religious associations,
professional associations, cultural activities, youth work and political
parties in particular. At the same time, there has been a significant expansion
in unpaid voluntary work for most organisations, including religious and
church groups, youth work, welfare, trade unions, Third World development
and human rights, environmental and animal rights, sports, health, local
community and other new groups.
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Members of social organisations, voluntary workers in particular,
are more likely to engage in politically activity than the average citizen.
Generally, voluntary workers use democratic means to improve the institutions
of society and do not undermine them by illegal behaviour. They are more
likely to have confidence in social institutions and work towards their
improvement. Voluntary workers and members of social organisations are
more concerned for people in need than their non-involved counterparts.
In the exercise of voluntary work, members maintain and develop a general
trust in others.
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Youth voluntary workers look more favourably towards co-operation
foremost with the institutions of health care, education, the European
Union, the United Nations and the Church, and to a lesser extent with the
police, social security, NATO, employers, the present Government, local
Councils and the judiciary. They look less favourably, however, on trade
unions, the civil service, parliament and broadcasting. Irrespective of
the differential confidence in social institutions, youth voluntary workers
have greater trust in others than their non-involved counterparts. Trust
remains the foundation for voluntary organisations even if its formalisation
within institutions has the potential to undercut its resources.
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Relative to their non-committed counterparts, youth voluntary workers
show greater acceptance of the socially excluded, especially people with
social problems. The activities of voluntary workers have the potential
to militate against xenophobia and to contribute towards the better inclusion
of minority groups in society.
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In the present social conditions, it seems that younger people in
Malta look more favourably to having hands-on experience on piecemeal short-term
activities than to maintain long-term membership in voluntary organisations.
The general trend is a shift from membership in formal and established
organisations towards involvement in piecemeal voluntary activities.
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Youth voluntary workers, those engaged in new style activities in
particular, are more likely to have a post-traditional and a postmaterialist
value orientation than their non-involved counterparts.
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In the same way, youth members of associations, voluntary workers in particular,
are more likely to have a sense of European belonging than their non-involved
counterparts. They combine a predominantly local affinity with a
global, foremost European, sense of belonging. In the final analysis, members
of associations and voluntary workers are more likely to support membership
in the European Union than their non-involved counterparts. Possibly, new
style voluntary workers are pace setters for the advance of postmaterialism.
They are in a position to work with new style local and international organisations
in order to combat the social exclusion and discrimination of our times
promoting the inclusion of minorities.
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The extent to which youth voluntary workers are successful to construct
a European identity where minorities feel a sense of belonging has still
to be established.
Professor Anthony M. Abela, sociologist
St James Cavalier, Valletta. 21st March 2001.