Personal Identity and Volunteering

This study investigates the intersection of identity and volunteering and explores the drivers behind long-term volunteering, the experiences throughout the process and the emerging dynamics. It is inspired by theories of Vygotsky and Bandura, who emphasise human agency, mediating social factors and environments. The study was conducted across two countries, Australia and Bulgaria and exemplifies volunteering as an active mechanism through which individuals shape their own personal identities and cultures. The results outline the specific impacts of sustained volunteering on aspects of personal identity. The findings of the study provide important insights that have the potential to inform public policy.