الملخص الإنجليزي
Omani society is witnessing a flourishing voluntary activities depicted in the growing number of registered civil society organizations and the diversity of government efforts in promoting the voluntary sector. This is also evident in the advent of the growing in number civil society voluntary teams as other form of voluntary practices in Omani society, which assumed an important role in serving local communities and undertaking service and welfare activities among different groups in Omani society. To study reality of civil society voluntary teams and its role in Omani society, Al Rahma Charity Team was selected as a case study on the basis of being the oldest and most experienced team in voluntary work, as well as its self-dependence in securing funding sources (donations, and the team's income generating activities).
The present study aimed to identify the nature of volunteer work Al Rahma Charity Team in terms of its establishment, management and administrative organization, programs, projects and activities carried out, target groups, and sources of funding. The study also aimed to identify the nature of the economic return for voluntary work in the team for volunteers and beneficiaries. The research Al Rahma Charity Team depended on the case-study approach where data collection relied on individual and group in-depth interviews, in addition participant observation the documents, records and archives of Al Rahma Team. The study found a set of results, including: voluntary work in the team, although it is not registered association, still it is organized and institutionalized. Moreover, the team provides employment opportunities for 48 volunteers. In addition to that, it provides opportunities for training and capacity building. More significantly, it provides support and finance for small-scale family enterprises to generate their own income, and it contributes to the solution of a number of domestic problems including divorce, drugs addiction and beggary.
