National Volunteer Week April 16-May 7, 2023
National Volunteer Week is a week-long celebration celebrated on the third week of April annually that focuses on inspiring figures who, by volunteering, generally show great kindness in bettering the community and the world. This year, the celebration takes place from April 16 to May 7. The festival was established in 1974 and provided the best opportunity to thank you. It challenges us to do better and participate actively while joining hands to impact our local communities and seeking more support.
National Volunteer Week History
Whenever you turn, you see an opportunity to transform our world and lives; therefore, National Volunteer Week helps create awareness of the need to pump up volunteer efforts and spread the message of the sense of fulfillment that acts of volunteerism provide. The term ‘volunteer’ is derived from ‘volontaire,’ a 16th-century French word meaning ‘voluntary’ associated with the military for ‘one who offers himself for military service.’ Later in the 1630s, the term began to transcend beyond the military into the civilian sense.
FIVE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING
To assist the millions of hungry, homeless, and unemployed through relief programs, the U.S. in the 1930s launched a well-coordinated large-scale volunteer effort.
- International Year of Volunteer
The United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers (I.Y.V)
- Great Help in Tragedy
Volunteers are the people you see during the most trying moments in world history, such as Hurricane Katrina, Tsunami, the Indian Ocean earthquake, and Haiti's Earthquake, as they assist in disaster relief and recovery.
- Campaign Dubbed “United We Serve”
Calling for more engagement in service, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama announced this campaign dubbed ‘United We Serve.’
Due to the pandemic Covd-19 in 2020, there was a boost of almost 5% in the value of a volunteer hour.
IMPORTANCE OF THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
Volunteering our services to give back to the community as we help others makes us feel empowered, fulfilled, and goal-driven. It ushers in greater achievements by making us feel happier and self-confident with a more positive outlook.
Although service is all about helping others, it has its benefits, such as new skills, improved social interaction, higher self-esteem, recognition, and awards
In a world full of incredible challenges, we have managed to secure the future by rebuilding a more equitable society thanks to volunteers' lifesaving, immeasurable, tireless and selfless service.
