Libyan Women’s Participation in Voluntary Work: The Misrata City Scout and Guide Troop as a Model

Abstract

The study aims to identify the participation of Libyan women in voluntary work through their membership in the Scout and Guide Movement. To achieve this, the study adopted a descriptive approach using the comprehensive census method, where an online questionnaire was designed. The study population consisted of all women affiliated with the Misrata City Scout and Guide Troop, estimated at 48 women, distributed among Rovers, Guides, and leaders. The study reached a set of results, the most important of which are: Libyan women's participation in voluntary work through affiliation with the Scout and Guide Movement (Misrata City Scout and Guide Troop) was very high. The voluntary activities in which Libyan women participate are concentrated in several main fields derived from the principles of the Scouting movement: such as social and humanitarian work, health awareness, environmental service and sustainable development, education and capacity building, and event organization. Moreover, the reflections of voluntary work on the personality of Libyan women in the Misrata City Troop are manifested through refining their leadership personality, enhancing their self-confidence, developing their life skills such as teamwork and problem-solving, and increasing their awareness and active participation in serving and developing their community. As for the obstacles hindering women's participation in voluntary work in the Misrata City Troop, they were moderate, and most of them were administrative and organizational obstacles. The study recommended a set of proposed solutions that must be employed by the competent authorities in order to address all the obstacles that hinder the participation of Libyan women in voluntary work in the Scout and Guide Movement within the Misrata City Troop.