I believe there is one essential element in all our lives as human beings that deserves recognition: helping and supporting people and the environment—the core value of volunteering.
On December 5, International Volunteer Day, 2024, the United Nations Development Programme Administrator, Achim Steiner, called on our communities to recognise and appreciate the contributions of one billion volunteers worldwide. These volunteers support local and international communities in various contexts, including crises. They engage both on-site and online, working on tasks ranging from supporting individuals to organising large-scale events. Their impact is undeniable.
In 2017, I wrote my graduate thesis on volunteering in Kazakhstan, drawing on my six years of experience as a volunteer. By studying people’s motivations, it became clear that the reasons for volunteering are as complex and diverse as the activities volunteers undertake. These motivations include psychological, social, and economic factors. In this sense, volunteering mirrors the principles of sustainable development—addressing personal development, fulfilling psychological and social needs, and ultimately improving people’s lives and the environment.
Why study volunteering? Isn’t it just a simple act of helping? I believe volunteering has been crucial in shaping the person I am today. It helped me become someone I didn’t know I could be. By 2017, I was already seeing the rewards of my volunteering journey, and to this day, I remain deeply grateful for every opportunity it brought me. Volunteering pulled me out of my shell and led me to discover my true self.
After a decade of volunteering, I became a United Nations Volunteer in the autumn of 2021. This marked my first experience within the UN system and the UNV community. Despite having limited knowledge in communications outside of my work as a reporter, I joined the UNDP Communications Unit to contribute to improving the organization’s digital communication efforts.
Over more than two years of service, I learned a great deal about the UN system, improved my writing skills, and developed teamwork, leadership, and other technical skills essential to my role. Most importantly, I realised that with volunteering experience, the right skills, and motivation, I could continually strive to become a better version of myself while doing my best to support people and positively impact the communities that UNDP serves.
Through my service, I have helped share stories of hundreds of people who benefit from the vital work my colleagues and fellow volunteers accomplish every day. These stories keep us connected, allow us to listen to one another, and remind us that we are not alone in facing life’s challenges. We promote values, inform people about critical issues, and inspire action.
Reflecting on my year, I look back with a deep appreciation for the volunteering experiences that introduced me to incredible people, fostered meaningful connections, taught me new skills, and heightened my awareness of the world around me. Although my UN Volunteer contract has ended, I have continued to support UNDP in my new role within the communications team.
In closing, I encourage everyone reading this to add volunteering to their New Year’s resolutions. You will see how it transforms your life for the better while ensuring that no one is left behind.