International Volunteer Day 2022: Believe in the power of kindness

A Venezuelan Red Cross volunteer hands a balloon to a young girl in Tejerías, Venezuela whose family was affected by heavy rain in the country that has caused devastating landslides and floods.

A Venezuelan Red Cross volunteer hands a balloon to a young girl in Tejerías, Venezuela whose family was affected by devastating landslides and floods in late 2022.

Photo: Venezuelan Red Cross

5 December is International Volunteer Day—an opportunity to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their precious time and effort to voluntary service. For the IFRC, it's about celebrating our nearly 15 million volunteers engaging in local humanitarian action for global good.

Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are everywhere. You’ll find them in your street, in your local community, in every corner of the world. You may even be one of them. 

Every day, our millions of volunteers bring kindness to those who need it—no matter who or where they are.  

Whether it’s by offering a hot drink or food, 

Listening to someone and supporting their mental wellbeing, 

Delivering essential supplies or cash to remote communities, 

Giving or teaching lifesaving first aid, 

Offering people on the move a safe space to rest, 

Or helping communities adapt to climate change. 

Acts of kindness like these, even if they sometimes feel small, make a huge difference to the lives of people in crisis. 

Because kindness is powerful. And kindness is contagious—one small act can lead to another, and another, and another. 

"Throughout the year, our millions of volunteers have been bringing hope and help to hundreds of millions of people around the world."

Jagan Chapagain

IFRC Secretary General

At the IFRC, we believe in our volunteers. We believe in the power of kindness. 

Humanity, our first Principle, starts with kindness.   

And we believe we can all #BeHumanKind. 

"I want to thank our Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who are responding to every emergency, in every corner of the world, also in this very moment."

Francesco Rocca

IFRC President

On International Volunteer Day, as with every other day of the year, we deeply thank our incredible, unstoppable volunteers. 

You are appreciated. You are supported. You are valued. 

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