Civic Volunteerism in Crisis Response: The Formation, Roles, and Coordination of the Zendai Group in Thailand

Abstract

The global outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19 has enormously affected global societies and public health systems. Within this context, civic volunteerism has emerged to respond to the pandemic. Consequently, the Zendai Group was one of those groups. The aims of the study were: 1) to investigate the formation and role of the Zendai group in combating the Spread of COVID-19, and 2) to provide policy recommendations for enhancing civic volunteer system in preventing and solving the problem of future pandemics. This research was a qualitative case study using secondary data synthesis methodology, which involved analyzing secondary documents such as publications, online media, news articles, and media interviews, along with conducting in-depth interviews to triangulate the data. The reliability of the data was ensured through relevant verification methods, including triangulation methods, thematic analysis, and content analysis.

The findings revealed that several key conditions influenced the Zendai Group in volunteering, including collaboration and networks, technology use, administrative government policies, external environmental conditions, and operational factors related to motivation. A notable finding was the lack of defined professional roles and identities within the group. These conditions significantly shape the effectiveness of volunteer efforts in addressing the spread of COVID-19. The policy recommendation suggested enhancing the volunteer system requires the government to implement clear guidelines that define volunteer roles, leverage resources and expertise from diverse sectors, develop robust crisis management platforms, and give training opportunities to citizens. By adopting these policy suggestions, the government can empower volunteers, foster community engagement, and build a more resilient and effective response to societal challenges.