Improving Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Practices- Finnish Red Cross, Helsinki and Uusimaa District
Poudel, Alice (2017)
Poudel, Alice
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2017
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017061313416
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017061313416
Tiivistelmä
Amidst unstable global political and economic order, the numbers of people seeking refuge in the west of the world has increased. Effective settlement and integration of this population in the host country is only possible if the organizations facilitating the settlement and integration are also running effectively and efficiently.
This study, by focusing on the Helsinki, and Uusimaa District, explores the challenges the Finnish Red Cross has faced in the recruitment and retention of multilingual and multicultural volunteers who are crucial actors in the effective settlement and integration of the asylum seekers, quota refugees and immigrants alike.
With this challenge in mind, the objective of this thesis is to develop a set of practical recommendations that improve the current approach to the recruitment and retention of immigrant volunteers.
The study uses quantitative surveys to find some of the Pinch Points associated with the volunteer recruitment process. Similarly, it uses qualitative interviews with the staff and past volunteers to find the Pinch Points of volunteer retention. The study finds six themes through inductive analysis that have affected the recruitment and retention process of volunteers.
Building on existing knowledge in the literature and best practice in volunteer management, the outcome of the study is a set of recommendations that improve the current process of volunteer recruitment and retention. It also provides practical tools for the volunteer leaders and volunteers to self-manage and increase the efficiency of the volunteer recruitment and retention process.
The proposal, developed using the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders, was presented to the organization in order to validate the recommendations and ensue that they offered practical utility. Here, they were well-received and immediately implemented.
This study can provide a reference point for other non for profit and international organizations that work with volunteers and are looking for ways to make volunteer recruitment and retention process more effective.
This study, by focusing on the Helsinki, and Uusimaa District, explores the challenges the Finnish Red Cross has faced in the recruitment and retention of multilingual and multicultural volunteers who are crucial actors in the effective settlement and integration of the asylum seekers, quota refugees and immigrants alike.
With this challenge in mind, the objective of this thesis is to develop a set of practical recommendations that improve the current approach to the recruitment and retention of immigrant volunteers.
The study uses quantitative surveys to find some of the Pinch Points associated with the volunteer recruitment process. Similarly, it uses qualitative interviews with the staff and past volunteers to find the Pinch Points of volunteer retention. The study finds six themes through inductive analysis that have affected the recruitment and retention process of volunteers.
Building on existing knowledge in the literature and best practice in volunteer management, the outcome of the study is a set of recommendations that improve the current process of volunteer recruitment and retention. It also provides practical tools for the volunteer leaders and volunteers to self-manage and increase the efficiency of the volunteer recruitment and retention process.
The proposal, developed using the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders, was presented to the organization in order to validate the recommendations and ensue that they offered practical utility. Here, they were well-received and immediately implemented.
This study can provide a reference point for other non for profit and international organizations that work with volunteers and are looking for ways to make volunteer recruitment and retention process more effective.