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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019





                   Making the Impossible Possible: A Contribution of connection-
                       centered volunteering to local social development action


                                                                                               2*
                                                                          1
                                                              Gamlath, S  and Ekanayake, PR
                               1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

                                  2 Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Ruhuna


                                *Email: pushpa123ek@gmail.com  and sarath.gamlath@gmail.com


               Abstract

               The focus of this paper is to explain the benefits of volunteering from the perspective of

               local social development. It is observed that volunteering activism contributes to transform
               social development into an action which is conventionally believed to be a goal of economic
               development.  The  authors’  experience  in  community  volunteering  programmes

               demonstrates  that  modern  volunteering  is  now,  unlike  its  traditional  charitable  or
               philanthropic  meaning,  a  community  level  connection-centred  action  which  generates
               welfare  benefits  to  the  community.    It  is  extensively  used  in  the  context  of  local  level

               activities  of  Community-based  Organisations.    That  volunteering  activism  contributes  to
               transform  social  development  into  an  action,  especially  at  grassroots,  and  energizes
               involvement of the community as an active partner in local social development action.



               Keywords:  Community Volunteering, Connection-centered, Development Action, Social
                            Community-Based Organizations, Volunteering, Local

               Introduction



               Social  development  is  a  complex  process  which  encompasses  all  aspects  of
               development, for example, economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and environmental,

               and is  predominantly policy-driven in  order  for  it to  take place without  a greater

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