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

Conclusion

Our main objective of this descriptive paper was to elaborate on the view that the

benefits of connection-centered approach and strategies to volunteering contribute to
set social conditions at the grassroots for social development action to take place

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

and is predominantly believed to be policy-driven in order for it to take place without
a greater emphasis on one over another. The Common belief especially among neo-

classical economists is that economic growth accompanies social development.

However, our view is that it can happen only if the policies are in place to
redistribute the benefits of economic growth in a manner that ensures social justice.

Again, if it is to be so, social development must be an action too, driven by “inclusive
social policies”. Therefore, it is believed that social development cannot be expected

to happen spontaneously through economic growth, and it has to be an action
happening hand-in-hand with economic growth. The outcome of such an action

would then be a social condition where everyone has the opportunity to live a

relatively reasonable level of decent and quality living. Unlike in the conventional
form, modern volunteering action is not only simply geared by the feelings and

attitudes of charity and philanthropy, but it is redefined as being driven by subjective

satisfaction gained from connection and engagement focused, committed action of
contribution to community uplifting. It is now said to be a human relationship-based

action so that it is very much connection-centered in terms of approach and
strategies. When formal institutional structures at the community level, particularly

Community-Based Organizations, which extensively recruit community volunteers in
their work, apply connection-centered volunteering approach and strategies, we

observed that it creates conducive conditions for social development action to take

place at the grassroots.

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