2026-09-23T19:02:21Zhttps://helda.helsinki.fi/server/oai/request

oai:helda.helsinki.fi:10138/6340712026-07-27T14:34:43Zcom_10138_18086com_10138_17738col_10138_18091

Kinebuchi, Ronja Helsingin yliopisto, Humanistinen tiedekunta University of Helsinki, Faculty of Humanities Helsingfors universitet, Humanistiska fakulteten 2026-06-24T10:46:01Z 2026-06-24T10:45:50Z 2026-06-24 2026-05-21 http://hdl.handle.net/10138/634071 URN:NBN:fi:hulib-202606243287 International volunteering has gained increasing popularity in the 21st century, and people from various backgrounds seek opportunities to join volunteer programs abroad. In this thesis, I will explore what types of processes volunteers go through while living and working in a foreign country. I try to understand what motivates young adults to participate in a long-term volunteer project in Finland, how they describe their experiences, and what outcomes they observe. I will employ a qualitative research approach, with semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. The aim is to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of the selected participants. As main theoretical frameworks, I will apply Volunteer Functions Inventory (Clary et al., 1998) and the process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation (Kim, 2001). Based on the data, I identified five main themes including, initial motivations, experiences of cultural adaptation, meaning-making, personal effects of volunteering, and outlook on the future. The findings in this thesis suggest that people volunteer for multiple reasons and one participant may have more than one motivation. Cultural differences, especially regarding language and communication, required adjustment. Also, volunteers explained how they found meaning within the experience, and how the volunteering and living in Finland affected them personally. Finally, volunteers discussed their future ambitions and how their current situation has impacted their outlook. eng Helsingin yliopisto University of Helsinki Helsingfors universitet CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International volunteering Volunteer Functions Inventory Motivations Experiences Cross-Cultural Adaptation Teologian opintosuunta Theology Track Teologian opintosuunta Kulttuurienvälisen vuorovaikutuksen maisteriohjelma Master's Programme in Intercultural Encounters Magisterprogrammet i interkulturell växelverkan “[...] I think that I am even receiving, like getting more than I give.” : Motivations and Experiences of Long-Term International Volunteers in Finland pro gradu -tutkielma master's thesis pro gradu -avhandling open.access