International Volunteer Day

What Is International Volunteer Day?

December 5th is "International Volunteer Day." Established by a 1985 United Nations General Assembly resolution and observed annually since 1986, it honors the contributions volunteers make to economic and social development and encourages more people to take part in volunteer work.

The State of Volunteering Around the World

According to UN data, over a billion people worldwide are engaged in some form of volunteer activity. From disaster relief and poverty support to environmental protection, education, and healthcare, volunteers fill gaps that governments and businesses alone cannot reach.

Volunteering in Japan

• Disaster relief volunteering: Japan has a well-developed system of volunteer centers that mobilize after earthquakes, floods, and other disasters
• Community activities: A wide range of locally rooted efforts, including neighborhood clean-ups, community building, children's cafeterias, and senior support
• International cooperation (JICA and NGOs): Japanese volunteers actively support education, healthcare, and agriculture in developing countries
• Sports volunteering: An accessible entry point, helping run marathons and other sporting events as operational staff

How to Get Started Volunteering

• Volunteer centers (run by local social welfare councils): Provide local volunteer information and matching services
• JICA Overseas Volunteers: Volunteer work abroad, open to people from their 20s to seniors
• NPOs and NGOs: Reach out to an organization working on a cause you care about for one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities

International Volunteer Day is a chance to turn the simple wish to "do something for someone else" into action.