'Serving with the heart'
The spirit of volunteering is about giving without expectation of reward. Throughout International Volunteer Year 2026, we honour the commitment and dedication of volunteers around the world, making a difference in their communities.
Together, we are 'Local, Everywhere'
She’s known as “Teacher Honey” because of her dedication to her students.
But when devastating floods — and later a massive earthquake — struck her community in Myanmar, Teacher Honey quickly changed hats and began providing urgent, life-saving help to people in need.
“Before, my world was mostly limited to the classroom—a small space," she says. "Now, I see the broader impact we can have, even among broken buildings and disrupted lives.”
Pwavi Sanagon Kushi is a local community leader in northern Nigeria who also happens to be a proud father.
But he also has another role. He helps lead a local Papas’ Club, a group of fathers who have joined together to help their neighbours find solutions to an enduring nutrition crisis.
“The Papas’ Club taught us to live in a clean and healthy environment for the benefit of our children,” Pwavi says with pride.
In the mountaineous region of Afghanistan, meanwhile, a young Red Crescent volunteer named Sharifa provides critical health care and first aid in communities hard hit by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in August 2025
As with Pwavi and Teacher Honey, the fact that Sharifa was from the local area, meant that she could easily talk with people in most need of help. They knew they could trust her and that she could understood their feelings and their needs.
“When I entered their homes, the women did not see me as a stranger," she recalls. "They saw me as one of their own.
"They opened up to me, spoke freely, and shared things they had never told anyone before."
Global reach, local impact
These are just a few among millions of local volunteers around the world who are saving and changing lives in their communities.
While they come from all parts of the globe, these volunteers all have one thing in common: They are all making a difference directly in the communities where they live.
In Europe, for example, Red Cross volunteers in Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Romania provide local language lessons for Ukrainians who had to flee their country following the escalation of conflict in 2022.
While across the Middle East and North Africa, volunteers for Red Crescent and Red Cross National Societies provide a wide range of life-saving and life-changing services:
• snowy mountain rescues in Iran
• helping people recover from floods in Yemen
• leading school health clubs in Lebanon
• caring for people in refugee camps in Jordan
• Offering psycho-social support in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon for children forced to leave their homes due to the conflict in Gaza.
• And much, much more.
(See more links to amazing volunteer stories at the bottom of this article).
First to arrive; there to stay
They are the ones who help their communities prepare for emergencies.
They are the first ones on the scene when disaster strikes.
And they are still there as they accompany neighbours through recovery – helping their communities remain as strong and resilient in the face of future challenges.
For this reason, we celebrate International Volunteer Year 2026 under the banner of Local, Everywhere.
We do this to honor the 17 million-plus dedicated volunteers who make this global network the effective, efficient and sustainable everyday, everywhere.
'We're not people who work to receive a decoration'
These are the words of Cuban Red Cross volunteer, Osmany Acosta, speaking about the days when he and a team of volunteers relentlessly rescued hundreds of people from flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa when it hit Cuba in November 2025.
'The water was on the main highways and it was already chest-deep.'
"It was raining heavily, and the water kept rising; the water levels were skyrocketing. I've never seen the water rise so fast."
For his search and rescue efforts during and after the storm, Acosta recently received Cuba's prestigious "Medalla de Valor" (Medal of Courage).
As we mark International Volunteer Year 2026, we honour volunteers like Osmany who dedicate their time, energy, work and love to their communities, all over the world.
Most volunteers do not get recognised publicly for their sacrifices, bravery and long-standing commitment to helping others.
So we take this occasion to say thank you to Osmany and millions of others around the world who give to others without expecting any reward.
During those critical hours and days following the storm, Osmany's team spent more than two days rescuing people by car boat and helicopter.
"We must have rescued around 300 to 400 people from a place called La Cañona," Osmany recalls. "It was the whole night, more than 12 hours, rescuing people in intense rain."
“We were about 15 rescuers from the Red Cross, and we must have rescued more than a thousand people. We must have taken 15 or 20 children from the houses, and two bedridden people.”
“How does it feel to be decorated? I took it very calmly; I didn't think they were going to give it to me because we're not people who work to receive a decoration.
"Being a rescuer here, deep in my heart, is about saving every single person I can, without exception, leaving no one behind.”
From the heart: 5 volunteers from Equatorial Guinea explain what motivates them to help others
During recent floods that struck the small town of Luba in Equatorial Guinea, more than 23,000 residents were severely affected.
In response, community volunteers mobilized without hesitation to provide assistance, support, and comfort to those impacted.
Many showed tremendous commitment, courage, and dedication throughout. Here's what five of those exceptional volunteers had to say when we asked them, "What motivates you to help others?"
Imelda Bendje
"Being a volunteer means giving, contributing, supporting in any situation that arises, without expecting anything in return."
"From within my community, I provide the necessary help while always putting forward my role as a volunteer.
During the recent flooding in the city of Luba, dealing directly with affected people, made me feel that I was truly making a difference.
Being a volunteer is not a job, it is a choice. It is having a generous heart. Voluntary action must be clear and without hidden intentions.”
Justo Ndong Osa
“Being a volunteer means serving with the heart, without expecting any reward. It is an expression of love for others, a commitment to the community, and solidarity with the most vulnerable.
I know the language, customs and values of my people. This allows me to approach others with empathy, speak confidently, and act respectfully.
The community sees me as one of their own, and this opens many doors. During an awareness campaign, some community members had doubts. By knowing them personally, I was able to speak with them closely. This built trust and encouraged them to participate actively.
During a visit to a family affected by an emergency, we not only brought assistance but also company. A mother told me: ‘Thank you for not forgetting us.’ At that moment, I realized that simply being present is already a form of help.
To all volunteers around the world: thank you for your dedication. Even if we are in different countries, we share the same compassionate heart. Let us continue serving with love, because every action counts.
María Paz Mbá Abeso
“For me, being a volunteer means acting with solidarity, not expecting financial rewards, and serving with the heart.
During the Mpox awareness campaign, I was able to translate for elderly people who did not understand what we were talking about, and this allowed the message to be delivered more clearly.
My message is: Let us continue helping and supporting with our hearts those who are in need.
Leyda Nguere Bekari
“For me, being a volunteer means offering or dedicating my free time to carry out an action or a service for the benefit of others and society.
As I am part of the community, I am aware of the real problems it faces. In this way, being a volunteer helps me interact with my community and extend a friendly helping hand.
When we were collecting waste and cleaning the streets (following floods in August 2025), our work came with a message: keeping the streets clean improves public health.
In my community, the perception of my work is very positive. It is seen as a driving force for social well-being, benefiting both those affected and those providing support.
As a volunteer, I would like to say that being able to draw a smile on someone’s face is something that truly comforts us.”
Arcadio Edu Miko
"As a volunteer in my community, I try to help others, whether financially or morally, so that they do not feel abandoned or discouraged.
As a volunteer, I have lived through experiences I would prefer not to relive. Seeing people suffering in public hospitals touched me deeply, and even though I don’t have much, I try to share what I can by bringing occasional help to hospitals, such as water bottles, soap, toilet paper, etc.
Recently, the city of Luba suffered flooding due to heavy rains, and many families were left without shelter. This encouraged me to join my fellow volunteers and go on-site to help by sweeping the streets and removing the debris left by the water.
I would like to first thank the other volunteers for all their efforts, because thanks to them I have also been inspired. I ask them to continue being patient, because being a volunteer is not easy.
Helping others without expecting anything in return is one of the most beautiful things in the world."
Imelda Bendje, volunteer for 16 years at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Imelda Bendje, volunteer for 16 years at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Justo Ndong Osa, volunteer at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Justo Ndong Osa, volunteer at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
María Paz Mbá Abeso, volunteer for one year at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
María Paz Mbá Abeso, volunteer for one year at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Leyda Nguere Bekari, volunteer for five year at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Leyda Nguere Bekari, volunteer for five year at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea.
Arcadio Edu Miko, volunteer at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea for more than 30 years.
Arcadio Edu Miko, volunteer at the Red Cross of Equatorial Guinea for more than 30 years.
Read more stories about volunteers around the world:
Local, everywhere: Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers keep humanity strong: Across the Middle East and North Africa, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are proving that humanity begins at home.
Philippines: Despite their own losses, volunteers kept showing up to help others
Cholera: Early detection by Cameroon Red Cross volunteer helps limit epidemic
Visit our In Memoriam Page, which honours Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers killed in the line of duty.
Learn how you can support our efforts to Protect Humanity by protecting volunteers who risk their lives to save others, often in dangerous situations.
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