Re: Participation

From: S Moonesamy <sm+mu_at_elandsys.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 02:32:46 -0800

Hi Ish,

I'll add a few things which I missed in my previous reply.

I am not sure whether people view volunteering as charity. A person
can join a volunteer organisation to:

   (a) Gain or improve his/her skills

   (b) To contribute to further a purpose which is in his/her interest

   (c) To support a social cause

   (d) enjoy a hobby

Item (a) provides an opportunity for the person to gain experience
especially when the person does not have any experience. It is
similar to an internship. Item (b) is about giving away expertise
for free as it is in the personal or financial interest of the person
to do so. Item (c) is when the person wants to support a
humanitarian mission, e.g. helping people in need. Item (d) is when
the person would like to avoid being bored during his/her free time.

This group fits under both (a) and (b). (a) will not work without
(b). Participation locally usually ends up as (d) because of local
traditions. It is difficult for a person to gain skills (a) in here
as the group don't offer mentoring. A few persons in here do (b),
e.g. they may provide free advice and support if one of them faces a
threat or if they agree that they have a common problem. The group
does not do (d). There isn't any obligation to help a person when
that person faces a threat, e.g. the person is accused of breaching
the ICT Act, the person's email account has been compromised.

Some of the topics discussed on the mailing list are ahead of the
times (for Mauritius). Some of the discussions are beyond the level
of a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or can only be understood by a
person with specific technical skills. Those are some of the
barriers to participation.

Regards,
S. Moonesamy
Received on Fri Jan 22 2016 - 10:35:08 PST