Policy for Volunteers in Austria and Switzerland

Jeannette Behringer describes extent & structure of volunteering & policy for volunteers in Austria & Switzerland. In both countries volunteering is widespread. The economic structure of the countries in the Alpes is mainly shaped by agriculture & tourism with effects on the respective policy fields. Behringer discusses the effects of the political structures & cultures in these countries on policy for volunteers. In the aftermath of the UN year of volunteering, in Austria public structures for supporting volunteers have been established & developed. Due to the federal political structure in Switzerland, the political support of volunteering is fragmented. Lessons to be learnt by other countries are discussed. Adapted from the source document.