WITH Vodacom and Avusa getting into the spirit of giving, the World Giving Index has concluded a report looking into various types of charitable behaviour that exist in society today.
Vodacom and Avusa's Change the World campaign gives 10 South Africans the opportunity to donate their time and expertise to a charity for six months while receiving payment for their work.
The World Giving Index, an international charity that encourages a culture of giving and is renowned for its research on the latest philanthropic trends, has looked at three different types of charitable behaviour.
These are: giving money, giving time or helping a stranger.
South Africa is ranked 76th in the World Giving Index and the report reveals that only 19percent of our population is willing to volunteer their time to help others.
Based on an average of their giving of money, volunteering and helping strangers, around half of the 20 most charitable countries might be seen as traditional economic "powerhouses", but around half - countries such as Guinea, Guyana and Turkmenistan - are not.
The data also shows that, around the world, the older we are, the more we tend to give - although this trend is reversed in some specific emerging and developing countries.
However, in most regions, we are least likely to help a stranger when we are over 50.
Global patterns in volunteering vary greatly by region and by country. For example, volunteering is high in North America throughout life: 34percent of North Americans aged 15-24 had volun-teered in the previous month, but almost double that number - 76percent of those aged over 50 - had done so.
Overall, women are marginally more likely to give money than men (30percent versus 29percent). Men, however, are marginally more likely to volunteer, and to help a stranger.
Overall Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland and the US are the most charitable countries, in that order, with South Africa ranking 76th in the world.
Through the Vodacom and Avusa Change the World campaign, volunteers will be sent to work with charities across the country, and all of their working and living costs will be covered. Each of the 10 charitable host organisations will receive R240000.
For the successful volunteers - in addition to the monthly allowance - each will receive a laptop, cellphone as well as prepaid credit.
The campaign is aligned to a worldwide Vodafone initiative called World of Difference.
South African citizens above the age of 18 are invited to submit an online application form to http:--changetheworld.vodacom.co.za by December 8.
Once selected, the successful applicants will be placed within the charities that match their interests, skills and experience and will begin to change their world from April 4 next year.
For more information please visit http:changetheworld.vodacom.co.za or SMS "change" to 31118.
Getting into the spirit of giving
WITH Vodacom and Avusa getting into the spirit of giving, the World Giving Index has concluded a report looking into various types of charitable behaviour that exist in society today.
Vodacom and Avusa's Change the World campaign gives 10 South Africans the opportunity to donate their time and expertise to a charity for six months while receiving payment for their work.
The World Giving Index, an international charity that encourages a culture of giving and is renowned for its research on the latest philanthropic trends, has looked at three different types of charitable behaviour.
These are: giving money, giving time or helping a stranger.
South Africa is ranked 76th in the World Giving Index and the report reveals that only 19percent of our population is willing to volunteer their time to help others.
Based on an average of their giving of money, volunteering and helping strangers, around half of the 20 most charitable countries might be seen as traditional economic "powerhouses", but around half - countries such as Guinea, Guyana and Turkmenistan - are not.
The data also shows that, around the world, the older we are, the more we tend to give - although this trend is reversed in some specific emerging and developing countries.
However, in most regions, we are least likely to help a stranger when we are over 50.
Global patterns in volunteering vary greatly by region and by country. For example, volunteering is high in North America throughout life: 34percent of North Americans aged 15-24 had volun-teered in the previous month, but almost double that number - 76percent of those aged over 50 - had done so.
Overall, women are marginally more likely to give money than men (30percent versus 29percent). Men, however, are marginally more likely to volunteer, and to help a stranger.
Overall Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland and the US are the most charitable countries, in that order, with South Africa ranking 76th in the world.
Through the Vodacom and Avusa Change the World campaign, volunteers will be sent to work with charities across the country, and all of their working and living costs will be covered. Each of the 10 charitable host organisations will receive R240000.
For the successful volunteers - in addition to the monthly allowance - each will receive a laptop, cellphone as well as prepaid credit.
The campaign is aligned to a worldwide Vodafone initiative called World of Difference.
South African citizens above the age of 18 are invited to submit an online application form to http:--changetheworld.vodacom.co.za by December 8.
Once selected, the successful applicants will be placed within the charities that match their interests, skills and experience and will begin to change their world from April 4 next year.
For more information please visit http:changetheworld.vodacom.co.za or SMS "change" to 31118.
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