According to most definitions, volunteer work is a voluntary, free-of charge, conscious activity to the benefit of other people, going beyond family or friendly ties. The word originates in the Latin expression "volontarius" which can be translates as "voluntary" or "willing to do sth". Volunteer work is beneficial both for the volunteer and for the organization or institution. Volunteer activity also serves local community, certain groups and eventually, to the whole society.

1. Who can become a volunteer?
2. Rights and obligations of a volunteer
3. Agreement
4. Where to work as a volunteer?

1. Who can become a volunteer?

Generally, it is recognized that a volunteer is a person who helps others free-of-charge. Volunteer work can be provided everywhere, in any field of life, wherever such help is needed. The following individuals can serve as volunteers:

• the unemployed - they are not deprived of the status and social benefits.
• immigrants - they do not need to have the permission for work in Poland
• under-age persons - provided, that they have a written consent of their supervisors

2. Rights and responsibilities of the volunteer

• A volunteer is eligible for compensations in case of accident when providing volunteer services. (the beneficiary shall take out casualty insurance for any volunteer providing benefits for a period not longer than 30 days.
• Depending on the will of the organization, the volunteer may be eligible for health care benefits on terms and conditions laid out in legal regulations on general health insurance;
• Upon the demand of the volunteer, the beneficiary shall be obliged to confirm the content of the agreement in writing, and to issue a written confirmation and an opinion on benefits provided;
• The beneficiary is obliged to notify the volunteer on his/her rights and responsibilities and to ensure access to these information;
• The beneficiary notifies of any risk to health and safety stemming from the process of providing benefits, and on the rules of protection against occupational threats and hazards;
• The beneficiary provides safe and hygienic conditions of benefits provisions;
• The beneficiary covers costs of business travel and per diems;
• The beneficiary may also cover other costs covered by the volunteer when providing benefits and costs of training.

• The volunteer has to be qualified and conform to all requirements appropriate in the light of the type and scope of benefits provided (especially when the duty of such qualifications stems from separate legal provisions, e.g. in case of medical services to the homeless people).

• The volunteer is also obliged to fulfill undertaken tasks. Even if the agreement did not take the written for, and he/she does nor receive financial gratification, he/she is responsible for his/her duties.

3. Agreement

4. Who is eligible to take advantage of benefits?

• Non-governmental organizations

  Most NGOs take advantage of benefits provided by volunteers. They act for public benefit within the framework of broadly understood social services, health care, education and ecology. There are many ways to start volunteer activity. One of them is to go to the Volunteer Center. Volunteer Centers link people eager to become volunteers with organizations seeking such assistance. Apart from the data base of volunteer "vacancies" and candidates, they offer counseling in selecting appropriate organizations and tasks, as well as training. Candidates acquire general knowledge on the idea of volunteer movement, benefits and responsibilities stemming from such activity. In case that there in no Volunteer Center in a given locality, or it is not able to offer any interesting proposal, an information on NGOs operating in the given area can be searched for in the local media or in the internet. An internet data base on over 50 thousand Polish NGOs is administered by the Klon/Jawor Association. The candidate may also ask about appropriate NGOs his/her friends, family, local authorities, social workers or priests. An NGO may be contacted by phone, e-mail or personally. If it does not need volunteers for the time being - it may refer the candidate to another NGO or contact the candidate once appropriate offer appears.
  
  

• Public administration units

  In public institutions volunteers have an occasion to learn about functioning of public administration and business institutions. Such activity gives also a chance to cooperate with professional team of people. Several social programs are not implemented due to lack of educated, specialized staff and resources to hire more people. Thanks to volunteers the offer of services in the field of social services, health care, rehabilitation, professional consultancy, culture, public security, education, sport, tourism shall be broadened. On the other hand, graduates shall have an occasion to obtain experience. The volunteer shall be able to apply for job in any institution, from social center to the ministry.