UN Volunteer Teacher Farah Chahine talking to one of the students during the recess, while another child embraces Layal Ammar, also a UN Volunteer Teacher, Ramallah School in Chatila Palestinian Refugee camp.
UN Volunteer Teacher Farah Chahine talking to one of the students during the recess, while another child embraces Layal Ammar, also a UN Volunteer Teacher, Ramallah School in Chatila Palestinian Refugee camp.
Photo:UNV
UN Volunteer Teacher Farah Chahine talking to one of the students during the recess, while another child embraces Layal Ammar, also a UN Volunteer Teacher, Ramallah School in Chatila Palestinian Refugee camp. UNV

The diverse and dynamic role of volunteerism in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals merits strong support from Governments and other stakeholders. On this International Day, I thank volunteers for their efforts to leave no one behind.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector.

Apart from mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development by advocating for the recognition of volunteers and working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming.

 

At UNV, we are marking #IVD2019 with the theme "Volunteer for an inclusive future".

At UNV, we are marking #IVD2019 with the theme "Volunteer for an inclusive future", highlighting SDG 10 and the pursuit of equality – including inclusion – through volunteerism.

Volunteering provides opportunities for people, particularly those often excluded, to concretely impact their own lives and play a constructive role in their communities by volunteering their time and skills. Through volunteerism, communities around the world often experience strengthened solidarity and inclusion.

This 2018 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR), The thread that binds: Volunteerism and community resilience, looks at how volunteerism and community resilience interact across diverse contexts.

This 2018 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR), The thread that binds: Volunteerism and community resilience, looks at how volunteerism and community resilience interact across diverse contexts. It explores the strengths and limitations of community responses to a range of shocks and stresses, and it examines how external actors can build on communities’ self-organization in a complementary way, nurturing the most beneficial characteristics of volunteerism while mitigating against potential harms to the most vulnerable.

 

International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.