Abstract

Volunteering is a still relatively underexplored field of research that has, however, steadily gained prominence within the workforce and academic curriculums. This thesis will attempt to delineate the field of charitable action by examining the experiences and perspectives of twenty-one interlocutors recruited for the research. Through an in-depth analysis of their backgrounds and interests, this study will concentrate on the motivation, experience and effects of charitable action. In particular, it will argue that amongst Montreal volunteers, these stages often reflect features associated with the shift from close-knit communal forms of living to highly individualized interactions. As will be elaborated, the relationship between socioeconomic change and the actual process of volunteering can illustrate the highly flexible nature of this field and the lasting impact of structural shifts.