PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Volunteer self-identity cultivation is of tremendous significance to Malaysian youths. As inheritors of the country, they must have a strong volunteer self-identity to contribute spiritually or physically to the development of society and the nation. In addition, having a solid volunteer self-identity can foster a productive generation that thinks positively, practices a healthy lifestyle, and avoids social problems. Examining internal factors is crucial for shaping the volunteer's self-identity. These factors can influence a person's desire to get involved in volunteer activities or vice versa. However, a previous study indicates that the youth's desire to internalise the spirit of volunteering remains fragile. Thus, this study will examine the internal factors that can encourage the formation and nurturing of a volunteering self-identity among Malaysian youth. Ten volunteer organisation activists from five Malaysian zones (north, south, central, east coast, and east) participated in this qualitative study through in-depth interviews. The interview data were thematically analysed. The findings indicated four factors that encourage the formation and nurturing of youth volunteer self-identity: internal values, self-awareness, religious beliefs, and self-motivation. The study's novelty lies in its holistic framework, which integrates all research findings to foster volunteer self-identity among Malaysian youth. It emphasises the central role of values like empathy, the impact of self-awareness and long-term perspective, and the influence of Islamic teachings while highlighting practical strategies for enhancing youth volunteerism.