Volunteer Youth Engagement and Performance of Humanitarian Organisations in Kenya: A Case of Kenya Red Cross Society

This study examined the effect of volunteer youth participation in decision-making and community service on performance of humanitarian organizations in Kenya, using the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) as a case study. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach. Data were collected from a sample of 810 respondents comprising youth volunteers, staff, and governance members drawn from KRCS’s 47 county branches and eight regional offices. Structured questionnaires were used, and quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics summarized respondent characteristics, while correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression analyses established the strength and significance of relationships among variables. Results revealed statistically significant positive relationships between youth engagement and organizational performance. Participation in community service had the strongest influence (β = 0.640, p < .001), followed by decision-making participation (β = 0.130, p < .001). The findings also highlighted regional gender disparities, with male dominance in the North Eastern and Upper Eastern regions and higher female participation in Coast and West Kenya. Overall, the study concludes that meaningful youth engagement enhances organizational efficiency, innovation, and community outreach. It recommends institutionalizing inclusive decision-making structures, strengthening youth-led community service initiatives, and addressing gender and regional imbalances to optimize the contribution of young volunteers to organizational performance.

volunteerism, youth engagement, decision-making, community service

1. Abd-Rahman, A., Halim, H., & Syed-Abdullah, S. (2025). Lend your hand: A model of sustainable youth engagement in environmental volunteering. *Journal of Environmental Management Studies, 14*(2), 77–93. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. African Union. (2021). *Agenda 2063: The Africa we want.* African Union Commission. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Barber, B. L., Mueller, C. T., & Ogata, S. (2013). Volunteer engagement and civic responsibility in youth development: A longitudinal study. *Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42*(5), 843–859. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Barnett, M. A., & Brennan, M. A. (2008). Youth volunteers: Influences, motivations, and receptivity. *Journal of Volunteer Administration, 25*(3), 15–26. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Checkoway, B., & Aldana, A. (2013). Youth participation in community decision-making. *Youth & Society, 45*(2), 272–290. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). *Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches* (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Dekel, N., Geldenhuys, M., & Harris, C. (2022). Organizational support, engagement, and wellbeing in volunteers. *South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 48*(1), 1–10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. DuBois, B. (2020). Supporting volunteerism in youth development programs: A systematic review. *Youth & Society, 52*(4), 643–661. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Englert, M., & Helmig, B. (2018). Volunteer management practices and organizational performance in non-profit organizations. *Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 29*(1), 123–135. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Falessi, L. (2020). Volunteering, emotional intelligence, and job performance among Kenyan youth. *African Journal of Psychology and Social Sciences, 12*(3), 98–111. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Gaby, S. (2017). The civic engagement gap: Youth participation and inequality. *Sociological Inquiry, 87*(2), 295–322. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Georgeou, N., & Haas, B. (2019). Power, exchange and solidarity: Youth volunteering for development. *Third World Quarterly, 40*(10), 1879–1895. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Government of Kenya. (2015). *National Volunteerism Policy. * Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Hart, R. (1992). *Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. * UNICEF Innocenti Essays No. 4. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). (2018). *Youth engagement strategy 2018: Youth as agents of change. * IFRC. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). (2019). *2019 Kenya population and housing census. * KNBS. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). (2021). *Strategic plan 2021–2025. * KRCS. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). (2022). *Youth engagement assessment report. * KRCS. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Kombo, D. K., & Tromp, D. L. A. (2011). *Proposal and thesis writing: An introduction. * Paulines Publications Africa. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Lough, B. J., & Matthew, L. (2014). International volunteering and governance: Impact on accountability and transparency. *Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 43*(6), 1029–1050. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Malinen, S., & Harju, L. (2017). Volunteer engagement and organizational loyalty: Evidence from Finland. *Journal of Nonprofit Management, 23*(2), 112–128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Millora, M. L. (2025). Youth voice and institutional transformation: Reimagining participation in volunteer organizations. *Journal of Youth Studies, 28*(4), 556–574. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Mwangi, P. (2019). Youth participation in county governance in Kenya. *African Journal of Governance and Development, 8*(1), 45–60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Naeem, S., Khalid, F., & Bukhari, S. (2021). Youth participation in child rights advocacy: Evidence from NGOs in Pakistan. *Journal of Social Work Studies, 17*(2), 134–147. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Nencini, A., Romaioli, D., & Meneghini, A. M. (2016). Volunteer motivation and organizational climate: Relationships with organizational commitment in non-profit organizations. *The Journal of Psychology, 150*(3), 278–303. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Nursey-Bray, M., Palmer, R., & Harvey, N. (2022). Building community resilience through youth volunteering: An Australian perspective. *Journal of Community Development, 57*(4), 321–340. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ovcharova, L. (2020). Social work and youth engagement in volunteering: A South African perspective. *International Journal of Social Development, 15*(1), 23–38. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Udoma, A., Umoh, E., & Etuk, L. (2024). Youth volunteerism and community development in Nigeria. *African Journal of Social Sciences, 14*(1), 55–70. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. United Nations. (2018). *Youth 2030: The United Nations strategy on youth. * United Nations Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Wei, L., Abdullah, S., & Rahman, A. (2025). Altruism and youth volunteer readiness in Malaysia. *Asian Journal of Youth Studies, 19*(1), 45–63. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Worker, S., Mahacek, R., & Pierce, J. (2020). Volunteer outcomes and impact in 4-H programs. *Journal of Extension, 58*(2), 1–13. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study