Change & InnovationAppreciative Inquiry
In a rural municipality, comprised of several smaller villages, both volunteer organizations and the local government observed increasing difficulty in finding people willing to commit to volunteering long-term. Organizations were facing vacancies, enthusiasm for ongoing involvement was declining, and engaging young people proved to be a challenge. At the same time, everyone recognized the importance of volunteer work for the vitality of the villages.
The municipality’s project leader wanted to explore how they could help strengthen voluntary engagement—in a way that would in itself support the organizations involved and boost overall morale and energy. She was looking for an approach that allowed people to learn and develop ideas together—ideas that wouldn’t just end up in a report but would actually spark actions.
Approach
Together, we developed a process based on Appreciative Inquiry. Not for the volunteer organizations, but with them. Together, we searched for what was already working—where were volunteers being successfully attracted, retained, and empowered?
We organized two gatherings at a local cultural center, bringing together volunteers from various initiatives and municipal officials. During the first evening, which was opened by the alderman, people shared their positive examples (many were surprised to hear so many stories) and envisioned a dream scenario: what would it look like if those successes became more common?
Even more people joined the second gathering. There, we worked in small groups on concrete ideas. People focused on themes such as “creating places of meaning” or “appealing to young volunteers” and together formulated actionable steps they could take right away.
What proved especially effective was the focus on where things were already going well. Once we directed attention to those situations, everyone had an example to share. However small it seemed… This changed the tone. Bringing together people from different sectors also fostered connection. The differences turned out to be valuable.
Finally, aligning with small, personal ideas was helpful. The metaphor of a fleet—each initiative as its own little boat—resonated: each heading in its own direction, yet sailing together.
Impact
People discovered new allies across the varied field of volunteer organisations and developed ideas they were truly motivated to pursue. At the same time, joint initiatives emerged, such as a renewed volunteer platform, new meeting places, experiments around inclusion, and a learning network for board members. A shared sense of movement and connection was born—something vital for the future.