Survey: Volunteering tied to happier life for half of HK population

A recent survey revealed that over 50 percent of Hong Kong residents have engaged in organized volunteer services, and they experienced a 30 percent increase in happiness compared to those who don't volunteer.

The survey, commissioned by the Agency for Volunteer Service and conducted by the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong's Department of Marketing, polled 773 residents on the streets in June. The survey adopted new indicators to gauge individual involvement in voluntary works, considering factors such as interest, input and impact.

The survey showed that 54.2 percent of respondents had participated in organized volunteer work within the past three years. Among them, 37.1 percent opted for charitable or nonprofit organizations, 15.2 percent participated through educational institutions, and 13.1 percent favored religious entities.

Seventy-five percent of volunteers agreed that their activities played a pivotal role in fostering personal happiness. They reported a happiness score of 3.51 out of 5, a notable 30 percent higher than the score of 2.72 obtained by those who had not volunteered over the past three years.

The survey also shed light on the varying motivations across age demographics.

For the younger group aged 30 or below, 15.2 percent said they want to make new friends and expand their social circles. For respondents aged 31 to 50, 12.5 percent said they seek recognition from society or friends. And 14.5 percent of surveyed people aged 51 or above aim to make good use of their spare time.

However, the survey identified key challenges for youth engagement, with 30.2 percent citing the lack of time as the main obstacle. Other barriers include absence of peers to volunteer with, and difficulty in finding suitable opportunities.

The economic value of volunteer work is significant. The economic output generated by voluntary work amounted to HK$10.9 billion ($1.4 billion), nearly double the figure in 2009. The total volunteer hours in the city reached 158 million last year, an 80 percent growth compared to 15 years ago.

About 20 percent of the respondents expressed their willingness to volunteer in other places of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Melissa Pang, chairwoman of the Agency for Volunteer Service, attributed the trend to the frequent weekend trips northward by Hong Kong residents, which was facilitated by the GBA's "onehour living circle" infrastructure achievement.

Likie Lee Pui-ki, chief executive officer of the agency, said they will create more opportunities for Hong Kong residents to volunteer on the Chinese mainland.

The agency and the city's Home and Youth Affairs Bureau co-organized the Hong Kong Volunteer Award in 2005 to recognize volunteers who make outstanding contributions. Application for the award this year opened on Thursday and will be accepted through Aug 30.

atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com