Volunteering turns shared values into action.
The Universal Declaration on Volunteering presents volunteering as an essential expression of civil society, enabling people to contribute their time, skills and energy to stronger, more just and sustainable communities.
A fundamental building block of civil society.
Volunteering gives practical expression to values such as community, care, service, solidarity and responsibility.
It enables people to participate in the life of their communities while learning, developing skills and contributing to solutions for social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges.
The Declaration recognises volunteering not only as service to others, but also as a way for people to exercise responsibility, build connections and strengthen society.
Volunteering should remain accessible across cultural, ethnic, religious, economic, physical and social differences.
Service can strengthen both people and communities.
Volunteering sustains values of caring, community and service through practical action.
People can exercise rights and responsibilities as members of their communities while learning throughout life.
Volunteer action creates opportunities for people with different backgrounds to work together on shared challenges.
Volunteering can help people develop knowledge, skills, creativity, self-reliance and confidence.
Young people should be encouraged and enabled to make leadership through service a continuing part of their lives.
Volunteer action can contribute to communities that respect human dignity, participation and social justice.
The development of volunteering
The Declaration calls for forms of volunteering that enable communities to identify and address their own challenges while creating meaningful opportunities for people to participate.
It encourages volunteering that:
- involves communities in understanding and addressing their own needs;
- encourages youth leadership through service;
- helps amplify the voices of people who may otherwise struggle to be heard;
- enables more people to participate as volunteers;
- complements rather than replaces the responsibilities of governments, other sectors and paid workers;
- supports learning, personal development, creativity and self-reliance;
- strengthens solidarity within families, communities, nations and across the world.
Shared responsibility
Effective volunteering is not the responsibility of the volunteer alone. Organisations and communities also have obligations to create environments in which volunteers can contribute meaningfully.
A call to volunteers
The Declaration calls on volunteers to see volunteer action as a creative force capable of strengthening communities and advancing human dignity.
Volunteer action can:
- help build healthy and sustainable communities;
- enable people to exercise their rights and improve their lives;
- contribute to solutions for social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges;
- strengthen cooperation across communities and nations;
- contribute to a more humane and just society.
A call to leaders in every sector
The Declaration recognises that volunteering flourishes when institutions create the conditions that allow people to participate.
It therefore calls on leaders across government, business, civil society, media, education and other institutions to support a strong culture of volunteering.
A global vision for volunteering
The Declaration places volunteering within a wider global movement for civil society, solidarity and human development.
It connects volunteer action with fundamental human rights and calls for international recognition of the importance of volunteering in free and participatory societies.
The Declaration also called for greater global visibility for volunteering and for the institutions that make meaningful volunteer participation possible.
YUVA and the Declaration
YUVA adopted the Universal Declaration on Volunteering through its Board at a General Meeting held in Port Louis, Mauritius, in February 2015.
Its principles continue to align with YUVA’s approach to youth participation, leadership, community service and volunteer engagement.
YUVA encourages volunteers, organisations and leaders to study the Declaration, discuss its principles and help create volunteering opportunities that are meaningful, inclusive and accessible.
Volunteer action grows when institutions make room for it.
Remove unnecessary barriers, involve volunteers appropriately and support infrastructure that strengthens volunteering.
Make it easier for employees to contribute to their communities and support volunteering infrastructure.
Give visibility to volunteer action and provide information that helps people participate.
Encourage people of all ages to volunteer and reflect on what they learn through service.
Invest the time, systems and resources required to engage volunteers effectively.
Enable local people to participate actively in identifying needs and shaping solutions.
Local and national volunteer institutions can help coordinate, promote and improve volunteering.
Communities of faith can support service as an expression of care for others.
A principle adopted at the beginning of YUVA’s journey.
YUVA formally adopted the Universal Declaration on Volunteering at a General Meeting of its Board in Port Louis, Mauritius, in February 2015.
The Declaration provides a wider civic framework for the organisation’s commitment to volunteer participation and youth leadership through service.
Volunteering becomes meaningful when values become action.
Explore opportunities to contribute your time, skills and experience through YUVA’s programmes and community initiatives.