One of the world’s greatest statesmen, Mahatma Gandhi has said that, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.  

It is in this amazing spirit of living for others and serving the country to build a just and fair society that the United Nation on December 5 marked the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development. Its values and virtues go far beyond party politics where there is power and plenty of scope for big business, legally or fraudulently. 

 In a statement to mark this International Volunteer Day, the United Nations says volunteering provides opportunities for people, particularly those often excluded, to concretely impact their own lives and play a constructive role in their communities by volunteering their time and skills. Through volunteerism, communities around the world often experience strengthened solidarity and inclusion.  

Last year a report was issued on the state of the world’s volunteerism. The report titled, ‘The thread that binds: Volunteerism and community resilience’,looks at how volunteerism and community resilience interact across diverse contexts. It explores the strengths and limitations of community responses to a range of shocks and stresses. It also examines how external actors can build on communities’ self-organization in a complementary way, nurturing the most beneficial characteristics of volunteerism while mitigating against potential harms to the most vulnerable.  

In a message to mark the event, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, the 2030 Agenda calls for a just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met. Volunteerism is a powerful mechanism to engage people, especially those left farthest behind, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. When people volunteer they connect with others and foster a sense of purpose.  

This year’s International Volunteer Day theme, ‘Volunteer for an Inclusive Future’, proclaims that, through volunteering, people make meaningful contributions to more inclusive and equalitarian societies. By voluntary actions, people on the margins can become more included in societies. For example, the ‘#HerStory initiative’, with 500 volunteer editors throughout the Arab States, has increased the representation of women in the Arabic-language Wikipedia, achieving more gender inclusiveness in the culture of the region. UN Volunteers in the Accessible India Campaign augmented accessibility for people with disabilities by auditing 1,600 public buildings across 25 major cities. In refugee camps throughout the globe, displaced people themselves are volunteering for children’s education and better intercultural understanding.  

In addition to increasing the number of UN Volunteers to contribute to the UN system, activities in support of Agenda 2030, the UN chief says we need to promote volunteerism worldwide -- as it nurtures solidarity and cohesion through underlying values of cooperation and reciprocity. Volunteerism is essential to ensure that global sustainable development efforts are owned by all people, implemented by all people and for all people.  

Outside party politics which is largely self-centred or for personal gain and glory, Sri Lanka urgently needs volunteers who willingly work for the economic and social development of the country. This touches the dimensions of spirituality. Volunteerism could begin in the home then extend to the neighbourhood, the places we work and wherever we go. In the family we could set an example by saving fresh water or electricity, planting trees and serving others. When this virtue is built up in the family it could extend naturally to other areas where helping and living for others become our contribution to make a better world. 

Interesting indeed was the recent story of a personality who plays a major role in the international battle against global warming and climate change. But he also does minor things such as picking up waste paper or some trash on the road and putting it into a garbage dump.