Volunteerism and well-being
UNV, 2013by: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme An extract from the 2011 State of the world’s Volunteerism Report Volunteerism is a basic expression of human relationships. It is about people’s need to participate in their societies and to feel that they matter to others. It is infused with values including solidarity, reciprocity, mutual trust, belonging and empowerment, all of which contribute significantly to the well-being of individuals, their communities and societies. People the world over engage in volunteerism for a great variety of reasons: to help eliminate poverty and improve basic health and education; to provide a safe water supply and adequate sanitation; to tackle environmental issues and climate change; to reduce the risk of disasters; and to combat social exclusion and violent conflict. Volunteerism also forms the backbone of many national and international nongovernmental organizations and other civil society organizations as well as social and political movements. It is present in the public sector and is increasingly a feature of the private sector.