Abstract
The aim of this research was to discover the promotion factors for continued participation in voluntary organizational activities for community care, and to this purpose we performed a case study on exploration of relevant qualitative factors. Research subjects consisted of sixteen members who were actively involved as volunteers in one of these organizations practicing innovative activities.
From the results, we identified three key factors that promote continued activity participation.
1. High level readiness: A factor which indicates the condition prior to activities, and includes the following four sub-factors: <<need of deepening relationship with local community>>, <<need of continuous self-development>>, <<generation that considers about life after retirement in local community>> and <<experience of realization about necessity for social support>>.
2. Feeling of affirmation towards system of constructed organization: A factor that is extracted from experience of actual activities, which directly induces participation to the activities and a feeling of affirmation towards the system of the organization that they have constructed. It includes the following sub-factors: <<cumulative experience of actual activities>>, <<charming organizational members>>, <<systems of activities allowing participation>> and <<supports from surrounding people>> .
3. Feeling of satisfaction from the functionality of constructed organization: A factor that stemmed from events that induced personal alteration, and includes the following five sub-factors: <<a place for cultivating the relationship with local community>>, <<a place for learning and discovery>>, <<a place for self development>>, <<a place for obtaining intellectual satisfaction>> and <<a place for care>> . Subjects began their activities with clear motives, and from the functions and systems of the activities that built up with accumulated experience, they obtained satisfaction about their personal aims of life, and proceeded to continue with these activities. In addition, there is suggestion that “the opportunity of creating an exuberant social relationship” plays an important role as a continuance factor of participation in these activities.
