Generally

Volunteering is a free chosen activity, done for the benefit of other people, free of charge. Each volunteer gives a part of his/her time, energy and ability for the benefit of others, of the society. Volunteer gains no financial profit, but often a priceless good feeling from helping others, new experiences and friendships. Volunteering expresses basic human virtues, which in the Western culture have roots in Christian morale (regardless if we believe or not).

Defining volunteerism in the Czech Republic is problematic, because the totalitarian communist regime (1948-1989) devalued volunteerism and turned voluntary work into obligatory socialistic collectivism (see more from the history here). Since 1989, 20 years of work of volunteer centers and thousands of volunteers, who help in hospitals, pensions for seniors, choldren´s homes, in environmental issues, culture, as voluntary firefighters, who prepare programs for children and youth or who help others when floods hit their homes, have had an excellent result - the meaning of the word "volunteering" is free from all political and other connotations and means "only" a free choice how to spend time (one of results of Inquiry Patterns and Values of Volunteers in the Czech Republic; for all findings click here). A new generation grows up for which volunteering will be a regular part of their lives, we hope.