Putting our hearts into things: International Volunteer Day
International Volunteer Day is celebrated every 5th of December, after it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985.. At that time, the UNGA called on States to take measures to raise awareness and recognition of the work of volunteers and the important contribution they make to every community.
To this day, millions of people a year volunteer their services in different fields around the world, with tasks ranging from providing support in humanitarian crises to serving in various organisations.
Overcoming the pessimistic discourse on the current state of humanity, where it sometimes seems that people have become more individualistic than ever, with their heads buried in their phones, volunteers represent hope materialised in acts of kindness and altruism.
Voluntary work builds links in a world that often seems divided. It is enough to remember what happened recently with the recent hurricane in the Valencian community, where thousands of people, far from staying away, left their homes and went on their own initiative to help the people affected, to listen to them and support them in their day-to-day lives. They got directly involved and demonstrated that sense of empathy and humanity that keeps us alive. The image of a crowd crossing the bridge linking the La Torre neighbourhood with San Marcelino still remains fresh in people’s memories.
Baltazar Garzón (2018), in his work ‘Active Indignation’ said that ‘the protagonists are those who build the reaction day by day, with their contributions, their ideas, and the coherence of their thinking with the practice of their postulates’. Aren’t volunteers those who, with their passion, become protagonists? And, aren’t they those who try to act coherently with their ideals?
Volunteering enables people to participate in the growth of their communities, creates a sense of responsibility for their future and inspires others by fostering active and caring citizenship.
Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly recognises that the role of volunteers is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). . It was stated that volunteerism strengthens civic engagement, safeguards social inclusion, enhances solidarity and solidifies ownership of development outcomes. These goals are key to addressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice.
International Volunteer Day invites us to reflect on the far-reaching impact of volunteer work in modern society. Every altruistic action has the intrinsic power to change lives, both for those who receive help and those who give it.
As climate, social and political challenges present themselves as a constant, volunteering stands as a bridge to collaborative solutions. Every gesture of solidarity becomes a powerful message: change is possible when people join forces. Therefore, educational institutions, social organisations and governments have a responsibility to promote and facilitate spaces for volunteering, recognising its value as a driver of human development.
In the age of social networks, it is volunteers who build the real networks that connect humanity. They are the artists of Gloria Fuertes, who make works of art with their free hours, and create demonstrable miracles. The union of individual efforts generates the force that transforms societies. Let us continue to awaken vocations.
