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a. Explain how the text “Vision and Volunteerism” helped you to understand the value of

Community Service to Jamaica. What do you consider to be your role? 

Let me first declare that the text “Vision and Volunteerism” by author Don Robotham, is a

wonderful text that puts the overview of volunteerism in Jamaica into a concise reading that

is well worthy of being read.

Prior to reading this text, volunteerism was a topic that I was aware of but didn’t pay much

attention too. Volunteerism meant for me, people offering free labour for what purpose I

couldn’t see myself. Very often I saw people doing cleanup projects around the city, offering

their helping hands to the elderly and other kind gestures of humanity but weren’t aware of

its values and benefits.

Upon embarking on a journey to read this book from cover to cover, I had no expectations.

The book has proven to be a informative, influential piece of literature and has open a few

avenues of thought to me. As the author stated in the book, Jamaica is not totally deprived of

volunteerism, but however, the practice of the act has certainly decreased over the years.

Jamaica’s motivation for volunteerism by evidence from Don Robotham’s research, is

usually of some nationwide wide feeling of pride that is gained from World Cup 98’

qualification, independence or any other island wide victory. This is the time when the

spirit of volunteerism is highest and this shouldn’t be, we should strive to always be caring

and helpful unto our neighbours without using them as a means to an end.

This book has shown me how much my community is being deprived of basic intrinsic

initiatives which could make all our lives better and our community a better place to live

with just a little effort.

The major problem that we face, is the same problem that has contributed to the rise in

unwanted pregnancy, crime and unethical behaviour is a breakdown in the traditional

social norms that were passed down to us before independence. It is fine for us to be

independent of someone else’s norms but we have to simultaneously build and follow new

norms that breed a sense of pride and practice of good ethics through volunteerism. This

can be done by volunteerism mainly through community service and for this movement to

begin and my role is to begin this movement in my community.

Community Service for Development, Interrelationship of CSP 1001 with General Education modules

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b. To what extent did the module(s) help you to understand the Community Service

experience or vice versa?

The module has shed some light on the purpose of doing voluntary work. The module

formally informed me of what the values of my actions were, which made me cognitively

aware of why I am doing what I am doing which would make me more passionate to excite

interest in other persons from an informed, experienced point of view. The module’s made

me aware of different approaches and forms volunteerism may take which broaden my

mental horizons.

The modules exposed me to volunteerism on a individual, national and global level which

brought much insight into the motivation behind many organizations and individual’s

actions.

Community Service for Development, Interrelationship of CSP 1001 with General Education modules