Spirit of Volunteerism and Community Involvement of the Senior High School Students in SDO Lipa City

Abstract

This study examined the spirit of volunteerism and community involvement of the Senior High School students in the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Lipa City in fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. The study is socially relevant as it addresses the need to strengthen youth participation in community initiatives amid declining student involvement in volunteer activities. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

A descriptive-correlational quantitative research design was utilized involving 367 Senior High School students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were gathered using a validated survey questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient.

The findings revealed that the students demonstrated a high extent of manifestation of the spirit of volunteerism and a high level of community involvement. The study further showed a highly significant relationship between volunteerism and community involvement. However, challenges such as academic workload, limited time, and insufficient motivation affected students’ participation in volunteer activities.

The study concluded that volunteerism and community involvement contribute significantly to the development of civic engagement and social responsibility among learners. Based on the findings, enhancement activities were proposed to strengthen students’ active participation in community initiatives and promote socially responsible citizenship.