“The promotion of volunteering and opportunities for volunteering is lacking, yet there is undeniable interest among young people!” This was the key conclusion from the debate “Let’s Talk About YOUTH AND VOLUNTEERING”, organised by the Civic Resource Centre on 5th December 2024, at the Resource Centre in Štip, where over 100 participants gathered to mark the International Volunteer Day.
The event aimed to raise awareness and contribute to promoting a culture of volunteering, particularly among young people, encouraging them to participate in and initiate their own volunteer actions to drive positive change in their communities.
During the first part of the event, the key characteristics of volunteering were presented, emphasising what volunteering is and what it is not, who can be a volunteer, and who can organise volunteering activities. Participants also discussed the current level of volunteering, particularly among young people, in the country. It was concluded that young people do not volunteer extensively, and discussions focused on the reasons behind this and potential ways to improve the situation. Attendees highlighted that volunteering work and its outcomes are not adequately valued in society, that there are limited volunteering opportunities offered by civil society organisations (CSOs), and that these opportunities are often not well-promoted to young people who are interested.
“Volunteering is a way to help or ease the burden for those in need. I have been a volunteer with the Red Cross of North Macedonia, Štip branch, for three years and actively participate in all the activities our organisation offers. There are thousands of volunteers worldwide, but unfortunately, awareness of volunteering here is still not widespread,” emphasized Teodora Stojčevska from the Red Cross of North Macedonia, Štip municipal organisation.
Participants discussed the fact that volunteering is not highly valued, noting that volunteer work needs to be recognized, acknowledged, and properly appreciated—not only for the benefit of the volunteers themselves but also because of the positive impact it has on the community.
Today, on Volunteer Day, 5th December, we need to promote the main benefits that volunteering brings to society as a whole. These include economic benefits, specifically financial relief to the state budget, as volunteering helps enable this; social benefits, as volunteering fosters a healthier social environment, stronger relationships, and a higher quality value system; and personal career development for the volunteer, helping them gain greater self-respect while the community recognises and highly values their contribution,” stated Mavro di Karpičarov from the Association of Action Volunteers “Path of Youth” in Štip.
“Today’s event is an excellent opportunity to encourage volunteering in Macedonia,” said Jordanka Kalajdzieva from the Environmental Association “Rainbow” in Štip. “It is crucial to have as many events like this as possible to motivate young people to participate in volunteering on a larger scale and to promote the organisation of on-the-ground volunteer initiatives, especially in environmental protection,” she added.
At the event, attention was also drawn to the Strategy for the Promotion and Development of Volunteering 2021–2025, which serves as a framework for stakeholders to achieve positive results and ensure that volunteering is respected, recognised, and nurtured as one of society’s core values. Unfortunately, the Strategy implementation is not at an enviable level, the participants concluded, especially regarding one of its four strategic objectives: “Encouraging a culture of volunteering within the education system.” In reality, activities aimed at fostering a culture of volunteering are insufficient, and much more dedicated effort is needed to achieve this goal. Schools could play a significant role by supporting their students, encouraging them to volunteer, organising volunteering actions, collaborating with civil society organisations, and promoting existing opportunities, the participants emphasised. In this regard, several positive examples were shared by representatives and volunteers from civil society organisations, showcasing opportunities for engaging volunteers in various activities and initiatives. Additionally, young attendees without prior volunteering experience shared their ideas for actions they would like to participate in, highlighting the potential for increased engagement when given proper support and encouragement.
In the second part of the event, through group work, participants analysed how young people can contribute to positive changes and a better society through volunteering, while also discussing their expectations, interests, challenges, and fears.
Organisers of volunteering work and adults shared their expectations from the young volunteers: to demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and commitment, and to spread the idea of volunteering through their actions and words. They emphasised the importance of young volunteers becoming leaders and champions of volunteering within their communities, inspiring others by their example.
Young people also have expectations from organisers of volunteering work and specific needs related to their volunteering work, such as: positive and fair treatment, adequate conditions for performing their volunteering tasks, recognition, and appreciation of their efforts. They want their skills and contributions to be utilized effectively to help solve practical problems in the community. Additionally, they expect opportunities to develop personal skills and knowledge, gain experience, make new friends, build self-confidence, and engage in fun and dynamic work. They volunteer because they want to contribute, demonstrate humanity, benefit their community, and feel fulfilled and satisfied. Young volunteers also wish to acquire new knowledge that would help them perform their tasks better, such as time management, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills. They value the opportunity to grow personally while making a positive impact.
At the event, participants wrote many inspiring messages they wanted to share with their peers:
“You can make a difference. Join today!”
“Every hour of volunteering brings joy and change.”
“Help someone because humanity is the most important religion in the world.”
“Volunteer for a better community.”
“Helping is powerful! Let’s volunteer and make a big difference.”
“We need volunteers!”
“The key is to find areas where your skills and knowledge can be used and strive to create concrete practical solutions for the community’s needs. In the end, your knowledge and dedication can have a great impact and bring about positive changes.”
“The debate is organised within the EU-funded project „EU Support to Civil Society Resource Centre – Phase II” implemented by the National Civil Society Development Foundation – Civic Resource Centre, Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation, Association for Democratic Initiatives-ADI Gostivar and Media plus from Shtip.
