Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Module 1 The CHPS Concept
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Figure 1.1.13: A health volunteer demonstrates how to use participatory tools to diagnose community problems and
take action to solve them
“Every individual regardless of gender, race, religion or upbringing can make a
difference in the lives of others.”
Anonymous
One way communities participate in improving their health is through volunteerism.
Volunteerism means offering services without asking for payment in return. Since all
community members cannot be part of the programme to provide services, a few people
are selected and trained. CHPS zones in the community select people to help the nurse to
deliver health services. They are called ‘volunteers’ because they are not paid for the work
they do. Usually, the health volunteers are hard-working people who live in the community
and who want to see improvement in the health of the people (Box 1.1.2).
“Volunteers are not paid – not because the work they do is worthless, but because it is
priceless.”
Anonymous
Box 1.1.2: Misconceptions about volunteerism
• Volunteerism is a waste of time
• Volunteer work demands a lot of time
• Volunteer work is for people who do not need money
• Volunteer work is for people who are bored
• Volunteer work should always come with benefits