A Needs Assessment Report to Build & Strengthen the Volunteer Base of the Lower North Shore of Quebec

In the 21st century volunteers are asked to take on roles that hold significant importance. Volunteering is the most fundamental act of citizenship in our society. It is offering time, energy and skills of one’s own free will. By caring and contributing, volunteers decrease disparity, while they can gain skill(s), self-esteem, and can change their lives. People work to improve the lives of their neighbors and, in return, enhance their own. The project’s goal was to identify the needs of the twenty-one (21) regional and one hundred and thirteen (113) community organizations on the coast. The results of the study have provided the population with resourceful information, such as: the mandates, services, and orientation priorities of the regional organizations, the needs of the regional and community groups, and the potential development of new groups/organizations on the Lower North Shore. This was accomplished through a questionnaire (see annex 5) with a 100% success rate of the regional organizations, and a 92% achievement rate for the community organizations. With the development of a survey (see annex 6) and support of the survey participants (see annex 7); a remarkable 100% success rate was established for the potential development of new groups/organizations on the coast. However, it must be said that this information was gathered at the beginning of the project (August-September, 2003) and some of the orientation priorities of the regional organizations maybe completed and/or have changed since then.