INFLUENTIAL MOTIVATING FACTORS AND BARRIERS TO YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM IN MALAYSIA

There is a need to continuosly find new strategies to enhance student success. Apart from formal education, informal methods are also effective in nurturing the young minds and cultivating them with a sense of responsibility towards the society. Volunteerism is a powerful tool in educating youths as it helps them to enhance and enrich personal development, escape negative feelings and express values relating to altruistic beliefs. In lieu of its importance, this study seeks to examine the level of volunteerism participation among youths in Malaysia. Hence, a study was conducted on 250 Malaysian youths to identify their experience and involvement in volunteerism. It also examines the most influential internal and external factors that motivate them to volunteer. Challenges such as lack of time and information or having low self esteem that prevent them from volunteering were also investigated. Taking into consideration the motivating factors and challenges faced by the youths, this paper provides recommendations as to empower youth volunteerism in Malaysia.