How big of a deal is volunteering in Norway?
There are around 100,000 volunteer organisations in Norway, with the country having a rich history of volunteering.
Given the sheer number of organisations, it’s no surprise Norway is often ranked as one of the countries with the biggest volunteer sector.
Meanwhile, around 78 percent of the Norwegian population is signed up to at least one voluntary organisation while 48 percent were signed up to two, according to figures from national data agency Statistics Norway.
If it wasn’t already obvious, volunteering has ingrained itself as a core part of Norwegian society, so much so that the Norwegian government consistently sets aside public money to ensure people continue volunteering.
One way it does so is by offering tax deductions to those who contribute to volunteering organisations. Another is diverting money from the state-owned gambling company Norsk Tipping to organisations and charities to fund their work.
How did volunteering become so popular in Norway?
There are a few words for volunteering in Norway, and one of them dating back centuries is perhaps a sign of how important volunteering has been historically.
Dugand is the catch-all term for people pulling together and working towards the greater good. Most commonly, this refers to housing association members doing some work voluntarily to ensure the building and gardens are kept clean and pleasant for everyone, it also refers to the fund-raising practices of children.
This word itself comes from Old Norse and has referred to some form of organised work since the 17th century.
Historically, volunteering has been a cornerstone of Norwegian society, and some of the benefits provided by the welfare state today started because of voluntary initiatives.
Over time, the state became more and more responsible for people’s welfare. However, many also wanted to continue helping others out.
One explanation for the staying power of volunteering could be that Norway has traditionally been a high trust society, with the public encouraged to do the right thing for one another. For many, this has meant volunteering and helping others when they see the need to.
More recently, it appears that people’s motivation for volunteering has changed. Researchers pointed to more people giving up their time in pursuit of their personal goals, such as volunteering at a festival to secure tickets or giving up some time to boost their CV.
Furthermore, the number of long-term volunteers has also shrunk. Typically, a word that encapsulates long-term volunteers is ildsjell.
An ildsjell describes a person who is passionate about something and has put a lot of energy, passion and determination into something.
Typically, it refers to passionate causes and those who do a lot of work for the greater good of the community, typically through charity and volunteering work.
However, other research pointed to Norwegians still receiving personal satisfaction from volunteering and helping others.
What do Norway’s volunteering organisations do?
Voluntary groups exist for all kinds of things. This includes organisations for culture and recreation, religious and philosophical organisations, social and humanitarian organisations, nature and environmental protection organisations, local environmental associations, and children's and youth organisations.
However, political parties, trade unions and business groups all fall under this tag too.
Far and away, sports teams are one of the most common voluntary organisations. As anyone with kids in Norway can attest to, practically all children are signed up for some kind of club, team, or activity.
What foreigners need to know
Foreigners struggling with finding work or making friends are often told volunteering could open a lot of doors.
One difference between Norway and other countries is that when it comes to the recruitment process, employers are incredibly interested in what you enjoy in your free time.
Therefore, volunteering can boost your job hunting efforts as it demonstrates your team-player mentality.
When it comes to getting involved with an organisation, there are several places where you can find an opportunity to help out.
Frivillighet Norge, Norges Frivilligsentraler and Frivillig.no should help you find something that suits your skills, interests and availability. Major organisations such as the Norwegian Red Cross also have structured volunteer programs in place.
READ MORE: How can I find volunteer work in Norway?
One thing to note is that Norway’s immigration laws don’t allow nationals without a valid residence permit or right of residence to carry out any form of work, either paid or unpaid. Essentially anything that represents value creation could be considered “unpaid work” rather than volunteering. The Local has reported on a US national deported because her cultural exchange was deemed work by the authorities.
Therefore, it’s important to do the proper research on the rules that apply to your situation.
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