Volunteers in refugee camps – motivation, consequences and social support

Čubrilo, Nina. (2016). Volunteers in refugee camps – motivation, consequences and social support. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Lauri-Korajlija, Anita].

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Abstract

Refugee crisis that happened as a consequence of war in Syria reached its peak in 2015. What was needed to help refugees and make them safe was a help of volunteers. The aim of this research was to gain a comprehensive insight on the volunteers in refugee camps, precisely, to examine motivation and expectations, their changes, determinants of motivation and satisfaction, consequences of volunteering with refugees and professional and private social support. Ten volunteers from various organizations were examined using the technique of semi-structured interview. The results showed that even though there was a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic motives, volunteers were primarly intrinsically motivated, by values and altruism. Most important negative determinants that influenced motivation and satisfaction of volunteers were work conditions and organization, while positive determinants were positive social support among volunteers and contact with refugees. All volunteers have supportive family and friends. Conversations with other volunteers meant a lot to them, while the professional support was lacking. Also, they were not prepared and educated for volunteering in crisis situations. They point out that they find preparation, education and professional support as necessary and they also suggest the evaluation of volunteers before participating, since they are not sure that everyone is ready for that. They have restrained attitude towards media; they consume them selectively and critically, and find them mostly sensationalistic and exaggerating in order to create panic and make people afraid.

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