Social Role of Volunteers in Rehabilitation Programs for Children (Case of Charitable Foundation “Sheredar”)

The key purpose of this study is to reveal social role and functions of volunteers taking part in rehabilitation program in charitable foundation “Sheredar”. The research strategy is simple case study of the rehabilitation program for children in charitable foundation “Sheredar” with a special emphasis on volunteers’ experience. Nine semi-structured interviews with coordinators and volunteers were held. Documents posted on the website and pages of the foundation in social networking were also engaged. The role-making of volunteer is based on formal explanation of the volunteers' tasks during the program, emotional labor and attitude to the activity through the reflection of the program. Principal expectations about volunteer activity are established through emotional labor, which can develop to care for a child. The critical point is that volunteer can become a latent recipient of the program, because participation in the program can lead to biographical transformation.