– It is disappointing. We are not allowed to offer what we are supposed to, says the guard at the Rokken student house, Peter Bjørneset. In the study village of Volda, there are approximately 4,600 students. Many of them make use of Rokken, which is known for its concerts and quiz nights, which volunteer students themselves help to organise. But something has changed. Six to seven years ago, there were approximately 150 students on the waiting list to be volunteers. Now they need around 100 volunteers. – I would definitely like more people to contribute, and not just accept the offer we have, says Bjørneset. Åge Staurset (left) and Peter Bjørneset despair that so few students volunteer to work at the Rokken student house. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Reduced offer Daily manager Åge Staurset cannot fill up the rosters and it goes beyond the numbers at concerts. – We have had to remain closed for a number of days and we do not dare to let in as many people as we are allowed to at popular concerts because we are too few people. We also don’t dare to book as many concerts as before. In order to attract volunteers, they entice, among other things, with free entry to the event. But it is not just in the study village of Volda that they are struggling to get hold of volunteers. Both further south and north of the country, there are more people who despair. Day-to-day manager Astrid Johanne Eskeland at the Meiriet student house in Sogndal doesn’t get the rosters to go together either. At its worst, it was short of almost 100 people last autumn. That is why they have had to cut back on other opening hours. She believes she sees a generational change where those who come as students now have not had quite such a social life before. They have lost Russian time, festivals and had a weakened godfather week. In Alta, Alise Fors has run the City Scene student house on a budget. At its worst last year, she only had four volunteers, when she actually needs 70. In her view, the tendency was clear even before the corona pandemic. – We cannot rest on the fact that it has been a pandemic and use it as an excuse. We have to “step it up”, or we have to find other solutions or other ways of thinking. The students must also be required to. They have to find out what they want and what they want, says Fors. If the student support does not extend to the Norwegian Student Organisation, the students’ voice is against the politicians. Maika Marie Godal Dam is the manager there. She believes there are many reasons for the lack of voluntary involvement. – It is tight financially to be a student, and many have to have a part-time job. It goes beyond time to volunteer and build social community. Maika Marie Godal Dam is the leader of the Norwegian Student Organization. Photo: William Jobling / news Godal Dam does not think there is a lack of will, but that there are many demands on students today. She believes that it takes a lot of time to get money because the student grant is not enough. If the economic conditions improve, she believes more people will get involved. – It is sad. Voluntary work increases well-being and prevents loneliness. We are doing ourselves a disservice if we do not ensure that the students return to voluntary work. Students point in their free time Ingrid Elisabeth Aanonsen Hagaseth is one of those you might see as a new volunteer at the student house. – I could actually imagine being a volunteer. But then it is difficult to get started, she says. Ingrid Elisabeth Aanonsen Hagaseth thinks it is difficult for students to give up their free time to work as a volunteer. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Aanonsen Hagaseth believes the reason so many do not volunteer is because they want to use their free time in a different way. – It takes a lot of time. That one would like to do other things. Or that there is a lot of school. I have noticed that myself. And then spending your free time volunteering is a bit far-fetched, says Hagaseth. Held hope up Eikeland at the student house in Sogndal says she has seen a positive trend after Christmas. – I don’t have enough volunteers yet, but there is a slight increase after an extremely long decline. We just manage to maintain normal operations now. Both she and Staurset in Volda have faith in the future, but are aware that it will take time. – We see tendencies that are good. There are a few more people who are interested in arranging certain things. The hope is that it can get us back to where we were before, says Staurset. Daily manager Åge Staurset and duty officer Peter Bjørneset hope the hole in the duty roster will soon be filled.
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Fewer concerts in Volda, Alta and Sogndal – news Møre and Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
