International Volunteer Day is a time to mark the incredible achievements and contributions of volunteers across the world, to celebrate their power and collective efforts towards meeting the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals. Every day, over one billion people are taking action and volunteering.
When disaster strikes, volunteers are the first to respond. Embedded in communities, they can help reach those who are excluded and build bridges to government services. Volunteering is often the first step towards active citizenship. It supports people to become agents of change in their own communities- whether that’s demanding better access to health care, or education services, or taking action against the climate crisis.
Across VSO’s programmes, our community, national and international volunteers are working together in communities to improve access to services, help children receive better quality education, and improve their livelihoods. On International Volunteer Day we want to celebrate their efforts. We hope that you will join us in marking these incredible achievements.
WATCH VIDEO
Watch this video and join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of volunteers around the world!
Share your actions with us using the hashtag #WeVolunteerFor
You can take part in our celebration of International Volunteer Day. Share your own volunteering experience on Facebook, Instagram or on Twitter/X, with the hashtag #WeVolunteerFor, and your story will be shown along side all others on the wall below.
You can also generate your own unique graphic supporting the #WeVolunteerFor campaign by going to getdp.co/wevolunteerfor, clicking the big (+) to add your own image, and then downloading the banner. You can then put this banner on social media to join our celebration or show support for volunteers around the world.
Join us in celebrating VSO volunteers
Join us on Zoom on 7 December 10:00-11:20 (GMT) when we'll get to honour the inspirational work of VSO volunteers from different corners of the globe.
From preventing child marriages in Bangladesh, to safeguarding Afghan refugee children from child labour in Pakistan, to ensuring youth and people with disabilities are given seat at the table in reviewing the climate change act in Kenya - the awards celebrate the work of VSO volunteers in helping the lives of the most marginalised in society.
Our unique approach to volunteering
Volunteers are at the heart of everything VSO does. We bring about change not by sending aid, but by working with volunteers and partners to empower people living in some of the world’s poorest regions. Hear directly from our volunteers on what they volunteer for.
The sweet benefits of cross-cultural volunteering
Emeka Enwe, a Finish citizen, and Dotto Joseph from Tanzania might normally live over 4,000 miles apart from each other, but through VSO’s blended volunteering model, they’ve joined forces. Today they’re working together on a beekeeping project in Tanzania.
Transforming individuals, communities and societies through active citizenship
Volunteers are an incredible resource, who are making a vital contribution to the delivery of the sustainable development goals. They are also stepping up to question, to challenge, to hold decision makers to account for their actions.
Volunteering Together: Blending knowledge and skills for development
This research project by VSO and the University of Northumbria, examines the value that different kinds of volunteers can bring to development projects by working together.
