International development volunteering as a catalyst for long-term prosocial behaviours of returned Canadian volunteers

This article documents the long-term impacts of international development volunteering (IDV) on the prosocial behaviours, educational or career choices, and global citizenship activities of returned international volunteers (RVs). Findings from a 2018 survey completed by 450 Canadian RVs show how IDV can contribute to global citizenship and civic engagement. Qualitative and quantitative analyses demonstrate how IDV can help to build a more empathetic and justice-oriented society dedicated to addressing the causes and consequences of global poverty and inequality. As a distinctive model for transformational learning, this study illustrates the value of IDV as a model for cross-cultural education shaping values of global civic responsibility.