To recognise the importance of the work of volunteers, the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 40/212 in 1985 and, since then, governments, the United Nations system and civil society organisations have celebrated International Volunteer Day on 5th of December, the theme of which this year is: "volunteer now for our common future". The aim of the day is to promote the values of voluntary action and to recognise the work of millions of volunteers who work with organisations around the world.
Our iLIVE Project is joining in this recognition with the launch of its new website, www.iliveproject.eu/iwanttodecide, where the different countries participating in the study will share their own local celebrations for volunteers.
Chair of the International Collaborative, Professor John Ellershaw, who leads iLIVE's research line on volunteering, wanted to launch on this day "a huge 'thank you' to all the volunteers working around the world". For Prof Ellershaw, volunteering is "an amazing thing to do, to contribute to society and to support friends, family and society in general. I think without volunteers the world would be a much sadder place".