Activating youth in voluntary work: Effects, expectations and possibilities for using sports in reducing social problems

Abstract

As the capital Oslo grows and develops there also brings social problems for the city. On this study the analysis will consist of finding effects, expectations and possibilities by using a non-profit organization that uses sport/activities to reduce social problems. The research will be based on secondary data as a fundament for further research and the primary data comes from interviews and ethnographical method to locate relationships, attitudes and behavior people has towards youth in voluntary work and volunteer work with physical activity. The study can be an opener for future research, and development of more voluntarism to reduce social problems in other communities. But it can also be useful for other governments in countries where sports and activities are not so available for the regular population; in addition, some of the other countries have different relationships and attitudes towards physical activity. This method of using opportunities for changing attitudes and activating people as a mean for better integration and quality of life can affect and benefit more for communities than governmental initiatives. The present thesis indicates that voluntarism aimed at activating young people has some effect on keeping youth off the street and perhaps preventing crime and anti-social behavior. The voluntary work provides also role models and inspiration for the youths to pursue alternative modes of activity, but also for a better future. Crimefight has focus in forming fellowship and knowledge to provide appropriate values. All in all there are grounds to say that voluntary work has a value, not least in activating youth with a minority background, who are more exposed to social problems and discrimination than majority youth. In an ideal case this could also be extended to volunteer tourism, briefly noted in this thesis. The focus has been on the value voluntary work can have in motivating young people who are otherwise at risk.