“More investment is needed from educational and other institutions to convey positive examples and highlight volunteers who will be role models for young people. More opportunities need to be created, a good example set, and volunteering actively promoted as a value that builds the community” was the general conclusion of the debate entitled: “Are we conveying the values of volunteering to future generations?”, with which on the 5th of December 2025, at the Resource Centre in Shtip, the Volunteering Day was traditionally marked. The event, which was attended by over 70 participants, was filled with activities through which young people debated what volunteering means, its characteristics, and values. They tested their knowledge through a quiz, and in the creative part of the event, they made greeting cards for adult volunteers, as a sign of gratitude for their dedication.
The young people explained to the adults what they learned from this debate, and their common message was simple and sincere: “Happy Volunteering Day!”
The debate was organiсed in a way that the students from the student organisation at the Primary School "Dimitar Vlahov" - Shtip practically showed a positive example of active volunteering and contribution to the realization of this event.
In the second part, representatives of civil society organisations, institutions and young high school students shared success stories from organising volunteer actions. The main topic was the transfer of volunteer values and the question of whether enough is being done for young people to recognize the benefits of volunteering? The conclusion was clear: More opportunities, more examples and more support are needed!
“For me, volunteering is an act of setting higher standards for how all people in our society should behave, an act that shows love for the community. Volunteering is the purest form of civic participation and a driver of positive change,” said Dejan Andov – President of the Youth Work Association. He shared that through volunteering he has developed himself as a person and found like-minded people with whom he shares the same values, and his message that he sent to the youth at this debate was: “Be brave, inspire and create successful volunteer stories. You are cool if you help without expecting anything in return!”
Andov also gave sincere praise for the organisation, for the massive presence of young people and their knowledge of volunteering.
At the end of the event, the young girls who organised the “Shopov’s Eyes” event shared their volunteer story with great passion — another confirmation that the future of volunteering is in safe hands!
The event was organised under the project “EU Support for the Civic Resource Center – Phase 2” funded by the European Union. It is implemented by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development “Civic Resource Center”, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, the Association for Democratic Initiatives Gostivar and Media Plus Shtip.
