Service Enquiry

A joint initiative of the Global Service Institute and Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa, Service Enquiry is a journal that documents and analyzes service and volunteerism in countries around the world

The notion of service as a means of fostering civic engagement and promoting democratic participation is one that has gained momentum in recent years. And yet most service policies, programs and activities are still poorly documented, making it difficult to share experiences and to analyze how different service strategies impact the development of citizenship and democratic participation.

In an effort to change this situation, the Global Service Institute (GSI), in conjunction with the Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa (VOSESA) recently launched the first edition of a series called Service Enquiry. It focuses on the latest developments in service policy and programs, and on the impact of service on democratic values, citizenship and socio-economic development. Each edition seeks to develop new knowledge by analyzing the experience of service and volunteerism in different parts of the world. 

Download the chapter of Service Enquiry I written by ICP's Executive Director Susan Stroud and former Research Assistant Tanya Omeltchenko, Click here.

In 13 chapters, 24 authors draw together a range of perspectives on the role of volunteering and service in building democratic societies in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Various examples are provided of countries that transcended decades of military subjugation and economic hardship through solidarity, increased civic participation and a passionate belief in the idea that citizenship involves much more than the periodic right to vote. The authors examine the role of public policy in developing the voluntary sector and offer a range of insights on the potential for partnership between the state, civil society agencies, faith-based organizations, and the private sector in strengthening democratic practice, combating poverty and reducing wealth disparities through service and volunteering.