Felt senses of volunteers who help elderly people in institutions

In the recent years voluntarism in Russia has been growing steadily. This activity has some characteristics, which make it particularly sense sensitive: it is performed without any payment, or any obligation motives, volunteers are more likely to establish personal and closed relationships with elderly people and get in touch with main existentials (death, blame, suffer, aging, etc.). The main directions of volunteerism scientific investigation are generally devoted to volunteers` characteristics, their motivation and organizational issues. At the same time there is a lack of studies, which could represent this activity from the participants` point of view. In this article the results of interview analysis with volunteers from two volunteer organizations, who provide help for elderly people in institutions, are exposed. Following the approach of phenomenological interpretative analysis, "felt senses" are described: breaking everyday life bounds, broadening perspective, sense of unity, "the foundation of life".

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