KÜLTÜRLERARASI KARŞILAŞMALARIN GÖNÜLLÜLER ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ: KAPSAYICI BİR TOPLUM İÇİN SOSYAL SORUMLULUK

Abstract

This study focuses on the experiences of university students who participate in the volunteering activities of the Civic Engagement Projects Coordinatorship of the İzmir Institute of Technology. Civic engagement projects aim to contribute in developing of the democratic and participatory identity of university students through their volunteering experiences and to actively engage them in transformations for an inclusive society. In this context, the Civic Engagement Projects Coordinatorship supports volunteers to develop intercultural dialogue with diverse social groups through field projects. However, these dialogues may be challenging experiences that trigger a sense of anxiety and require volunteers to utilize adaptive competencies. In order to understand the impacts of intercultural dialogue on such volunteers, in-depth interviews were conducted with 43 university students who volunteered from 2016 to 2020. This study aims to understand the difficulties experienced by the volunteers in the field and discover their coping mechanisms. Based on the data obtained, the study identifies the methods that facilitated the students’ field experiences; additionally, essential insights are obtained regarding the improvements that the Civic Engagement Projects Coordinatorship needs to undertake in process management.