Wits Research Shows Volunteering Boosts Health and Serves as National Economic Asset

Wits Researchers Illuminate Volunteering's Profound Health Impacts

At the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), a leading institution in South Africa's higher education landscape, recent research has spotlighted volunteering as a powerful driver of personal health and societal well-being. Professor Samuel Manda, co-Principal Investigator at the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) within Wits School of Public Health, has been at the forefront of this exploration. His work reveals how engaging in volunteer activities not only enhances individual physical and mental health but also fortifies community resilience in resource-constrained environments like those across South Africa.

This insight stems from rigorous analyses addressing longstanding challenges in volunteerism research, such as reverse causation—where healthier individuals are more likely to volunteer—and confounding factors like income or education. By employing longitudinal studies, natural experiments, and quasi-experimental designs, Wits researchers aim to establish causal links, paving the way for evidence-based integration of volunteering into national health strategies.

From Personal Well-Being to Community Health Gains

Volunteering's health benefits manifest on multiple levels. For individuals, it fosters improved mental health through purpose and social connections, reducing risks of depression and anxiety. Physical activity inherent in many volunteer roles, such as community clean-ups or health outreach, contributes to better cardiovascular fitness and longevity. In South Africa, where non-communicable diseases strain public health systems, these outcomes are particularly vital.

Community-level impacts are equally compelling. Community health volunteers have demonstrably lowered maternal mortality rates by bridging gaps in rural healthcare access. Volunteer teachers have reduced pupil-teacher ratios and boosted pass rates in under-resourced schools, indirectly supporting child health through better education on nutrition and hygiene. Professor Tobias Chirwa, Head of Wits School of Public Health and SSACAB Principal Investigator, emphasizes how such programs could be scaled via task-shifting in South Africa's health workforce shortages.

• Enhanced social cohesion reduces conflict and builds trust, explaining variations in community resilience beyond government spending.
• Informal volunteering, rooted in cultural practices like Ubuntu, provides mutual aid that formal metrics overlook.
• Potential for 'social prescribing' where doctors recommend volunteering to improve patient outcomes.

Volunteering's Overlooked Economic Powerhouse Role

Beyond health, Wits research positions volunteering as a national economic asset. Drawing from the African Union’s State of Volunteerism in Africa Report (2025), recorded volunteer hours across Africa equate to over US$353 million annually using the replacement cost method—a direct GDP contribution. In South Africa, Statistics South Africa data shows volunteer rates rising to 6.9% in 2024 from 5.8% in 2014, with economic value surging by over R4 billion despite fewer hours, highlighting efficiency gains.

This valuation underscores volunteering's multiplier effect: motivated participants amplify public investments in health and education. For South African universities like Wits, it means leveraging student volunteer programs not just for social good but for economic modeling and policy advocacy. Misconceptions of volunteering as 'free labor' are debunked; instead, it's a strategic workforce enhancing service delivery.

Explore the full Wits article for deeper insights into these figures.

Innovative Measurement: Wits' GIVE Framework Leads the Way

Traditional metrics count formal hours, missing informal contributions central to African societies. Enter the Global Index of Volunteer Engagement (GIVE), pioneered by Professor Manda's team at Wits and the University of Pretoria, featured in the UN Volunteers' 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report. GIVE shifts focus to outcomes—well-being, skills, trust—via household surveys, enabling comparable data for policy.

SSACAB, hosted at Wits, bolsters this through biostatistical training, linking African and global institutions to tackle public health data challenges. This framework could transform how South African universities quantify student volunteering's impact on curricula and community partnerships.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

South African Universities Championing Volunteerism

Wits exemplifies higher education's role, with programs like student-led clinics and NGO fairs fostering hands-on engagement. Similar initiatives at University of Cape Town (UCT) and University of Johannesburg (UJ) integrate volunteering into health sciences, yielding dual benefits for students' employability and community health. Case studies show pharmacy students at Wits running free clinics for the homeless, honing skills while addressing urban poverty.

• UCT's community outreach reduces health disparities in townships.
• UJ's rural volunteering builds resilience amid HIV/AIDS care.
• Wits' SSACAB trains biostatisticians for volunteer impact analysis.

Challenges and Pathways Forward in Policy Integration

Despite promise, barriers persist: lack of training, safety nets, and data. Wits advocates formalizing volunteers in health systems, with protections akin to paid workers. For SA universities, this means curriculum embedding volunteerism, research grants for causal studies, and partnerships with government. The African Union report urges recognizing volunteering in national accounts, a step SA could lead via Wits' expertise.

View the African Union State of Volunteerism Report for continental strategies.

Real-World Case Studies from Wits and Beyond

In Soweto, Wits-linked community health volunteers cut maternal deaths by facilitating antenatal care. North West Province saw volunteers double to 307,000 by 2024, boosting local economies. University programs like Wits' NGO Fair connect students to opportunities, enhancing CVs and networks while delivering services.

These examples illustrate scalable models for SA higher education, where volunteering bridges theory and practice.

Future Outlook: Wits Paving Research Frontiers

Upcoming Wits-led collections on volunteer-health causality promise policy shifts. With SSACAB's capacity-building, SA universities can lead Africa's volunteerism research, integrating AI for data analysis and expanding GIVE applications. Students stand to gain actionable skills, positioning Wits graduates as leaders in public health and development.

Photo by Jolame Chirwa on Unsplash

Actionable Steps for Aspiring Volunteers in Higher Education

For Wits and SA university students: Join campus programs, track hours via apps, seek formal recognition. Academics: Collaborate on SSACAB projects. Policymakers: Adopt GIVE for budgeting. Volunteering isn't charity—it's investment in health, economy, and future.