How volunteering can help youth and society?

Want to Change the World? Start With the Power You Already Have.

Ever dreamed of a world that’s safer, fairer and more hopeful? Ever imagined a better education system… a 100% literacy rate… a planet where every UN Global Goal becomes reality?

Of course you have. We all have.

But here’s the real question:

Have you ever tried?

Most people hesitate because they believe they are too small to make a difference.But nobody changes the world alone — and more importantly, nobody has to.

Volunteering: The Most Powerful Force Ordinary People Can Use

Volunteering isn’t just an activity. It is an act of citizenship.A tool of social transformation. A proven strategy for building stronger communities, healthier societies, and more resilient nations.

In simple terms, volunteering means:

Giving your time and skills out of free will, for the benefit of others, without expecting anything in return.

But its impact goes far beyond kindness.

Governments around the world now recognize volunteering as:

• a driver of social inclusion

• an engine of economic development

• a tool for reducing inequality

• a bridge between institutions and communities

• a critical support for public service delivery

Volunteering doesn’t just help people — it strengthens entire systems.

What Research Shows: Volunteering Transforms Society

Decades of global research highlight the deep and diverse impact of volunteerism across sectors, including:

• socially responsible businesses

• employee volunteer programs

• partnerships between nonprofits and government

• community-led initiatives

Across all these spaces, the message is clear:

Volunteering is one of society’s most powerful forms of social capital.

It fuels civic participation, connects marginalized groups, and builds the foundation of a healthier civil society.

Here’s what volunteering consistently achieves:

1. Volunteering strengthens social connections.

It builds bridges between:

• governments

• enterprises

• communities

• employees

• individuals from different backgrounds

It connects sectors that otherwise never meet — and collaboration is what drives progress.

2. Volunteering contributes massively to the global economy.

Volunteers deliver services that governments alone cannot handle.They support education, health, environment, crisis response, and sustainable development.

The result?

• Reduced public expenditure

• Increased workforce capacity

• A stronger, more resilient economy

Voluntary organizations themselves are major employers and contribute directly to national GDP.

3. Volunteering builds safer, stronger communities.

Volunteers help create neighbourhoods that are cohesive, supportive, and more active in civic life.

They improve:

• social networks

• trust

• community resilience

• citizen engagement

A community with active volunteers is always more prepared, more connected, and more empowered.

4. Volunteering advances public services and youth development.

Volunteers play a critical role in:

• boosting educational outcomes

• providing community-based support

• driving environmental action

• promoting sustainability

• assisting public welfare programs

They fill gaps that no institution alone can fill.

5. Volunteering transforms individuals — not just society.

Volunteers themselves experience significant personal growth:

• higher self-esteem

• improved mental health

• new skills

• expanded career opportunities

• stronger leadership qualities

• a deeper sense of purpose

Volunteering is not charity — it is personal evolution.

The Economic Value of Volunteering: Why It Matters

Calculating the economic value of volunteer time helps:

1. Inform governments that volunteering is a real economic powerhouse.

This pushes policymakers to support volunteer programs and community organisations.

2. Encourage more people to volunteer.

When people see measurable impact, they realise volunteering is not symbolic — it is strategic.

3. Help media and communities understand the true worth of volunteer time.

It changes public perception from “helping out” to “building the nation.”

Volunteerism is not free work —it is high-value social investment.

Volunteering Shapes the Future

Voluntary organisations play a critical role in every country’s development —as service providers, employers, innovators, educators, and changemakers.

They build skills, train youth, create opportunities and help people re-enter the workforce.They strengthen democracy, social trust, and disaster resilience.They make places safer, fairer, and more sustainable.

Simply put:

Volunteering is one of the most powerful tools humanity has to change the world.

And every single person — including you — has the ability to use it.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a better planet…a stronger society…a kinder world…

Then remember this:change begins the moment you decide to get involved.

The world doesn’t need perfect people.

It needs people who show up.

Start where you are.Use what you have. Do what you can.

The rest will follow.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. — Muhammad Ali