Do your bit: Focus on days highlighting international issues International Days and Observances
International Volunteers Day
5 December
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (IVD) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/40/212 on 17 December 1985.

Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on 5 December.

2022
This year, the World Volunteer Day focuses on
"Solidarity through Volunteering."

... For the future of our planet, we must act together and we must act now.
This is not an era to stand alone but together, as one,
in solidarity with each other [UN Volunteers] .

Volunteers and volunteer organizations across the globe will join to celebrate International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December.

Building on the momentum of the International Year of Volunteers 2001, which raised the global profile of volunteerism, the International Day helps highlight collective challenges in voluntary action, including how to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This requires dedicated, coordinated action [UNV].



"If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever." - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Additional Resources:

GDRC has been working on themes related to this international day/observance, in its programme on Non-governmental Oganizations - the NGO Cafe.

GDRC therefore reaffirms its committment to uphold the objectives of the International Volunteers Day, and work towards better understanding of, and action on, promoting the concept of volunteerism for development.

Do your bit: Focus on days highlighting international issues Find other days/observances in the
"Do-Your-Bit" pages

Comments and suggestions - hsrinivas@gdrc.org