Pinoys among world’s top volunteers

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are among the top 10 nationalities worldwide who volunteer for charity work, according to a new report published by United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

The Philippines ranked 7th out of 139 countries with the highest number of people volunteering their time based on the CAF World Giving Index 2017. The report said 25 million Filipinos volunteered in 2016.

India ranked first, followed by the US, Indonesia, China, Brazil, Nigeria, Philippines, Japan, Myanmar and France.

“Of the top 10, only the US, the Philippines and Myanmar record fewer people volunteering in 2016 than in the previous year, with the remaining seven having seen increases,” the report said.

The index, published annually since 2010, is based on a survey of more than 146,000 people in 139 countries. It measures numbers giving cash, participating in volunteering, and helping a stranger.

Meanwhile, the Philippines placed 54th in the list of most generous nations in the world. Myanmar was in the top spot, a position it has held for four years, the CAF said.

It is followed by Indonesia, Kenya, New Zealand, US (second in 2016) and Australia sixth (previously third), Canada, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sierra Leone, Malta, Liberia, Iceland, Thailand, Iran, Zambia, Germany and Norway.

CAF is a leading international charity registered in the United Kingdom. Its mission is to motivate society to give ever more effectively and help transform lives and communities around the world.

The CAF said there has been a global decrease in giving since the last report. The proportion of people across the world who reported donating money in 2016 is the lowest for three years.