How volunteering offered a powerful way to forge connections and foster our shared humanity?

International Volunteer Day 2025


Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, reminded everyone that today was International Volunteer Day. The Secretary-General had issued a message emphasizing how volunteering offered a powerful way to forge connections and foster our shared humanity, and paid gratitude to the more than 14,000 people who had served through the United Nations Volunteers program. This week also marked the launch of the International Volunteer Year 2026. The Secretary-General is urging everyone, everywhere to volunteer for the cause that mattered to them in these times of crisis and uncertainty.

Tommaso Della Longa for the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), said

International Volunteer Day was a moment to honour the more than 17 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who made the world a safer place every day. This year the theme was "Local, Everywhere", highlighting the unique network volunteers coming from the community they served, backed by global coordination and solidarity. Volunteering without the desire for personal gain remained one of the fundamental principles of the Red Cross. Mr. Della Longa thanked all the Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers around the world for their unwavering commitment. He also highlighted the 25 red cross volunteers who have been killed this year, and paid tribute to those who had lost their lives.

Location: Av. de la Paix 8-14, 1211 Genève, Switzerland

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