Youth Volunteering

This book presents research conducted with groups of volunteers and non-volunteers that shows how volunteering enables the development of cognitive, emotional and social competencies, which constitute the DNA of transformational leaders and allow those who volunteer to stand out for their solidarity, conformity to social correctness, self-control, social sensitivity, helpfulness, collaboration, safety, assertiveness in interaction, adaptation, perception of self-efficacy, acceptance of others, building well-being, and prosocial leadership. Likewise, volunteering enables the development of a cognitive style, characterised by interpersonal and social problem solving skills, reflexivity, cognitive strategies, the ability to observe and retain relevant information about the social situation, the search for alternative solutions, the anticipation of the consequences that are likely to follow from social behaviours and the choice of the appropriate means to the ends pursued.