The experiences of volunteers in a South African non-profit health care organisation : pre-, during, and post-COVID-19

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the experiences of volunteers at the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), a non-profit organisation within the healthcare sector. It aimed to understand how individuals chose causes to support, the reasons behind their choices, the challenges they faced, and the perceived benefits of volunteering. The study also examined why individuals continued to volunteer despite the health risks during COVID-19 pandemic. The study applied functionalist, prosocial behaviour, and motivation theories to examine the psychological and social factors influencing volunteerism. Twelve participants from various provinces were purposefully selected with the assistance of CANSA. Data were collected through virtual interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical standards were upheld through informed consent and voluntary participation. Volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic fostered personal growth and resilience among participants, despite challenges like limited resources and emotional strain. Volunteers developed stronger social connections and made a meaningful impact in their communities. These findings highlight the importance of volunteerism in sustaining essential services during crises and offer lessons for future public health emergencies. NGOs like CANSA played a key role in supporting healthcare professionals by alleviating their workload. The study also identified limitations in how volunteerism and its motivating factors are understood within the healthcare context.

Thuto ena ea boleng e ile ea hlahloba Diphihlelo tsa baithaopi ba sebetsang mokhatlong o sa etseng phaello wa Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), o sebetsang lefapheng la tsa bophelo bo botle. E ne e ikemiseditse ho utlwisisa hore na batho ba kgetha jwang ho ithaopa, mabaka a bona, mathata ao ba tobanang le ’ona, le melemo eo ba e bonang ka ho ithaopa. Thuto e ile ya boela ya hlahloba hore na ke hobaneng ha batho ba ile ba tswela pele ho ithaopa le hoja ho ne ho e-na le dikotsi tsa bophelo nakong ya sewa sa COVID-19. Dithuto tsa functionalist, prosocial behaviour, le motivation di ile tsa sebeliswa ho hlahloba dintlha tsa kelello le tsa setjhaba tse susumetsang boithaopo. Batho ba leshome le metso e mmedi ba tswang diprofinseng tse fapaneng ba ile ba kgethwa ka boomo ka thuso ea CANSA. Dintlha di ile tsa bokelloa ka dipuisano tsa inthaneteng (virtual) mme tsa hlahlojoa ka mokgwoa wa thematic analysis. Maemo a boitshwaro bo botle a ile a lateloa ka ho saena tumellano ya ho nka karolo. Diphetho di bontshitse hore ho eketseha ha baithaopi ho ile ha thusa ho fokotsa ditshenyehelo le ho atolosa phihlello ya tlhokomelo ya bophelo, haholo-holo dibakeng tsa mahaeng. Mekgatlo e kang CANSA e ile ya bapala karolo ea bohlokoa ho tshehetsa ditsebi tsa bophelo bo botle. Leha ho le jwalo, thuto e ile ya boela ya totobatsa mefokolo ya kutlwisiso ya boithaopo le mabaka a susumetsang batho ho ithaopa.

Lolu cwaningo lwekhwalithi lwahlola okuhlangenwe nakho kwabasebenza ngokuzithandela eCancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), inhlangano engenzi nzuzo esebenza emkhakheni wezempilo. Lwaluqonde ukuqonda ukuthi abantu bakhetha kanjani izimbangela abazimisele ukuzisebenzela, izizathu zabo, izinselelo ababhekana nazo, kanye nezinzuzo abazibona ekuzithandeleni. Lwaphinde lwahlola ukuthi kungani abantu baqhubeka nokuzithandela naphezu kwezingozi zezempilo ngesikhathi sobhubhane lwe-COVID-19. Lwasebenzisa izinkolelo ze-functionalist, prosocial behaviour, kanye ne-motivation ukuhlola izici zengqondo nezomphakathi ezithinta ukuzithandela. Abahlanganyeli abayishumi nambili abavela ezifundazweni ezahlukene bakhethwa ngenhloso ngosizo lwe-CANSA. Idatha yaqoqwa ngezinkulumo ezibanjwe ku-inthanethi futhi yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa indlela ye-thematic analysis. Kwagcinwa izindinganiso zokuziphatha ezifanele, kufaka phakathi imvume ebhaliwe yokubamba iqhaza. Imiphumela yaveza ukuthi ukwanda kwabasebenza ngokuzithandela kwasiza ekwehliseni izindleko nasekwandiseni ukufinyelela kwezinsiza zezempilo, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Izinhlangano ezifana ne-CANSA zaba negalelo elikhulu ekusekeleni ochwepheshe bezempilo. Nokho, ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza imingcele ekuqondeni ukuzithandela nezizathu eziholela abantu ekuzithandeleni.