By: Comfort Nwankwo Secretary General, Sport For All Nigeria & Vice-President, TAFISA

9th ASFAA CONGRESSPEOPLE EMPOWERMENT FOR A HEALTHY AND STRONG NATION

NOVEMBER 25 – 28, 2006MANILA, PHILIPPINES

By: Comfort NwankwoSecretary General, Sport For All Nigeria & Vice-President, TAFISATel: +234-802-2239908, +234-1-7904074E-mail: [email protected]

Topic: MOTIVATING VOLUNTEERS IN AFRICA SPORT FOR ALL

MOTIVATING VOLUNTEERS IN AFRICA SPORT FOR ALL

The President of TAFISA & ASFAADignitaries here present;Colleagues in Sport For All

I feel very honored to be invited here to speak on the topic of motivation of volunteers in Africa Sport For All.

Please permit me to give you brief on Africa.

AFRICA:Rising from the restless oceans of earth are the six continents of the world. Africa, the land flowing with untapped human and natural resources occupies a prominent position, separating the Indian and Atlantic oceans and spreading its land masses into both the northern and southern hemisphere.

Africa’s surface area of more than 30 million square kilometer represent a diversity of culture, traditions, languages, geography, political and socio-economic systems yet are inter-woven. Although Africa forms part of the “third world” of modern history, it stands on one foot in restful antiquity, the other is waxing stronger in the dynamics of the twenty-first century.

The concept of active living (recreation) and community action in some part of Africa dates

back to ancient days. Historically, there existed during the ancient age in Africa some peculiar underlying principles of team participation in activities and events either in professional vocations or intra/inter communal harmonious relationships.

Examples of team co-operation in all facets of endeavour either vocational or recreation could be seen in vocation engaged in by Africans such as farming, hunting, craftwork, blacksmitting and mining, hence the popular phrase “Africa-united in diversity”.

The homogenous nature of the socio/cultural background that is commonplace amongst people of various societies also translates the reason they are able to maintain cordial relationships.

VOLUNTEER:

The word “Volunteer” in contemporary English Language depicts offer to freely engage in a process, to contribute time, effort and resources voluntarily, to a process, organization or group, within a society, aimed at the advancement and progress of such a process, or society.

Who then is a Volunteer? A Volunteer is a person who chooses to contribute his/her time, skills and experience for no payment other than reimbursement for out of pocket expenses to benefit the community (chelladurai 1999)Volunteers are cost effective but they do not come for free. Volunteerism needs inspired leadership, strong coordination, good training, rigorous evaluation, and supportive infrastructure

Welcome to Africa.

(Capeling-Alakija 2001) volunteers as a class have a particular advantage, they represent and reflect different perspectives within the society, whether of age, gender, economic, strength, politics, geography and a whole range of others (Eyon 1999).Volunteers are the glue that holds communities together. They have two essential tasks:

To safeguard the values and integrity of Sport For All and to ensure that Sport For All ideals meets the challenge of charge, excellence of educating, informing others on the need to be physically fit.Cuskelly and Harrington (1997) identified the following motives for volunteers. These are:

* Social contact* To help others * Fill time* Gain recognition* Meet the expectation of others * Help achieve goals of organizations* Personal enrichment, develop skills

* Fun and enjoyment* Having a sense of accomplishment* Self-expression and improving self-

image.

The concept of volunteerism is an inherent part of Africa’s social capital. One would not be wrong to

describe Africa as the “cradle of volunteerism” because of the ever-present manifestation of communal responsibility to sustain life in a harsh continent. The principle of caring for each other’s well- being (the brother’s keeper), a spirit of mutual support characterize Africa development, as indigenous cultural values and norms formed the means of impacting knowledge from one generation to another amongst various ethnic backgrounds and setting within the society.

In sport, volunteers function in the following area:

- Board members in clubs, organizations, federations- Coaches, Leaders, Instructors- Members of the Management of the Department- Referee, Judge- Organizer and etc.

Recruitment of volunteers should be done in a structured way followed by appropriate training so that sport events can be impactful.

MOTIVATION:

Since volunteering is an integral part of Africa’s social capital, is it necessary then to motivate volunteers? Let’s take a look at the word “motivation”

Viteles defines motivation as “an unsatisfied need which creates a state of tension or disequilibrium, causing the individual to move in a goal directed pattern towards restoring a state of equilibrium by satisfying the need.

The force of motivation is a dynamic force setting a person into motion or action. The word motivation is derived from motive, which is an active form of a desire, craving or need, which must be satisfied. Motivation is therefore a force from within.

Motivation can create an environment in which people are willing to work with zeal, initiating interest and enthusiasms with a sense of responsibility, loyalty and discipline in a team spirit and in a cohesive manner, which is what Sport For All seeks to achieve.

FACTORS THAT CAN MOTIVATE ONE TO VOLUNTEER

1. To help others / community2. Personal / family involvement3. To gain personal satisfaction4. To have social contact5. To do something worthwhile6. Feeling obliged7. To use skills / experience8. To gain work experience / reference9. To be active11. Religious beliefs12. To learn new skills

Africa being a developing continent where poverty abounds make it more difficult to have volunteers in Sport For All. But there must be a way out.

Government policies must be such that make volunteer work attractive, Corporate Organizations and philanthropists have roles to play as well. For:

- More concrete support for voluntary work- Improvement of financial and material conditions- Reaching a higher social recognition

MOTIVATION PROCESS- An analysis of the situation requiring motivation- Preparing, selecting and applying a set of motivating tools- Following up on the result of application.

We look forward to a time in Africa (the whole of Africa) when creative campaigns will be ongoing to press home the issue of physical fitness and healthy lifestyle for every one irrespective of age, gender religion and social background.

Africa in particular needs the support and encouragement of all Sport For All adherents the World over to motivate volunteers to spread the ideals of the movement to the nooks and crannies.To explore this resource of making sport possible for more people are the volunteers, the key for the future.

I want to use this medium to re-enact the dream of our beloved Prof. Jurgen Palm of blessed memory. He said, “As we developed the vision that Sport is for All, we should now develop the vision that volunteering is for all volunteering for all; in Sport but also in all other fields of life. This can help to make the world a better place to live in”.

Thank you and God bless.