What is the lived experience of carrying out voluntary work in Egypt from the perspective of university students?

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the lived experience of carrying out voluntary work in Egypt from the perspective of university students. This study attempted to discover the essence of such an experience and to highlight the main features which make up the voluntary work experience in Egypt. The data was obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with four participants. The emergent themes were analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study's findings highlight that the volunteers undergo a shift towards a metaphysical mode of mindfulness through which a search for meaning can be satisfied. This emerged through various aspects of the experience such as working with the children, living in a community and experiencing a new culture especially one in which poverty and discrimination are evident. Results also show that a number of benefits can be obtained through undergoing this experience and embracing a disposition to help others. Experiencing altruism, undergoing self growth and the discovery of meaning all serve to promote happiness in the individual's life. Therefore by exploring the experience through an existential approach one can generate awareness as to how such an experience can serve to improve the human condition.