December 5 — Volunteer Day: history, traditions, congratulations
Every year on December 5, the International Volunteer Day (Volunteer Day) is celebrated all over the world. This holiday is dedicated to millions of people who work gratuitously and selflessly for the benefit of society, participating in social, environmental, humanitarian and many other significant projects. In 2025, the date falls on a Friday. Izvestia tells about how the holiday originated and what traditions are associated with it.
The history of the international holiday on December 5th
Volunteer Day was officially established by a resolution of the UN General Assembly in 1985. The initiative aimed to highlight the role of the volunteer movement in solving global problems, strengthening international cooperation and improving the quality of life of people around the world.
The date was chosen because of the first conference of the International Movement for Peace and Mutual Understanding, which took place a year earlier, in 1984. For the first time, issues of involving citizens in socially useful activities through volunteerism were discussed at a high level.
In Russia, the holiday was fixed at the state level in 2017. The corresponding decree was signed by President Vladimir Putin. This decision was a logical step towards recognizing the scale and importance of the volunteer movement. Thus, the date of December 5 became the day when volunteers are honored not only internationally, but also domestically.
Who are the volunteers and how did the movement develop in Russia?
A volunteer is a person who, on his own initiative and without any expectation of financial reward, invests his strength, time and professional skills in helping other people and solving socially significant problems.
The areas of volunteer activity are very extensive — from helping elderly and seriously ill people to participating in search and rescue operations. Modern volunteering often involves a high level of organization, training, and coordination, especially in areas such as psychological assistance, medicine, and the search for missing people.
The history of the volunteer movement in Russia is rooted in community and church charity. Gratuitous aid to those in need was one of the main traditions at temples and monasteries. They created shelters for the underprivileged, provided medical and other assistance.
In the 19th century, charitable societies and unions developed. One of the largest associations of this kind was the Imperial Humane Society, formed in 1802 on the initiative of Alexander I. At the same time, sisters of mercy appeared who cared for wounded soldiers in hospitals. Their activities became particularly important during the Crimean and First World Wars.
In Soviet times, volunteers worked on construction sites, worked in hospitals and orphanages. Many joined the nature protection and public order squads. In the 1940s, after the release of Arkady Gaidar's novel "Timur and his Team," the Timur movement gained great momentum. Timurov residents provided assistance to military families, collected firewood, and helped with harvesting. The movement has reached millions of schoolchildren across the country.
In modern Russia, volunteerism is a dynamically developing movement that is supported by the state and covers various spheres of life. Among the popular areas are assistance in preserving historical and cultural heritage, caring for the environment, participating in the elimination of the consequences of natural disasters, and supporting vulnerable segments of the population and ITS participants.
As of the end of 2025, the share of Russians participating in volunteer activities has reached 32% of the adult population. This means that approximately one in three residents of the country has volunteered at least once.
Examples of large-scale volunteer projects in Russia
The project "Volunteer groups of the First" (one of the directions of the Russian movement of children and youth "Movement of the First"). The participants help the elderly, participate in landscaping, environmental, cultural and educational events.
All-Russian mutual aid campaign #MyPlace. It originated in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers delivered food and medicine to elderly and people with limited mobility, and provided psychological support. Then the forces were redirected to help the mobilized, their families and residents of the new regions.
The All-Russian project "Guardians of History". Volunteers are engaged in the improvement of military graves and memorials, help in search work, accompany veterans, and also create an archive of video memories of the participants of the Great Patriotic War.
The volunteer association "LizaAlert" (formed in 2010). The participants are searching for missing people. As of 2025, LizaAlert units operate in 64 regions of Russia, and the number of volunteers exceeds 40 thousand people, which makes the search and rescue unit the largest not only in Russia, but also in the world.
All-Russian public movement "Medical Volunteers". She provides care for the seriously ill, conducts educational events aimed at popularizing blood donation, preventing cancer and HIV infection. It is one of the largest voluntary associations in the field of healthcare in Europe.
Traditions of Volunteer Day in Russia
Every year on Volunteer Day, forums, seminars and conferences are held throughout the country, where the results of the work are summarized and the most relevant aspects of volunteer activity are outlined. State and public awards are presented at the federal and regional levels. Many famous Russians also participate in volunteer actions, setting a personal example.
Special attention is paid to educational work. There are "Lessons of kindness" in schools and universities aimed at attracting young people to volunteering. The mass media publish stories of successful projects and interviews with volunteers, which helps to popularize the idea of gratuitous assistance.
On December 5, flash mobs with the hashtags #Volunteer Day, #Volunteer Day, and #Myplace are launched on social networks, where users post their stories of participation in various projects and share photos. Many make donations to charities or give gifts to the wards of social institutions, thereby continuing the chain of kindness.
How to celebrate Volunteer Day in 2025
In 2025, on the eve of Volunteer Day, an award ceremony for the best volunteers was held in Moscow at the We Are Together forum. The award in the nomination "Volunteer of the Year" from the hands of the president was received by 30-year-old Anna Pluzhnikova for her help in eliminating the consequences of the environmental disaster in Anapa. She organized meals for rescuers and volunteers who cleaned the Black Sea after the tanker crash.
Speaking at the ceremony, the head of state praised the work of the volunteers, noting a significant increase in their number in recent years. He particularly noted the qualitative leap that occurred after the start of the special military operation, and also recalled the feat of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Putin, this activity has become the clearest manifestation of popular solidarity and civic responsibility, based on a sincere desire to help people.
Another important event of the Volunteer Day will be the All-Russian campaign "Week of Good Deeds". It runs from November 27 to December 5 and covers a wide variety of volunteer activities. It provides for the manufacture of trench candles and camouflage nets for the participants of the SVO, the improvement of memorials, and assistance to lonely elderly people. Some days are dedicated to scientific, medical and environmental volunteering.
Also, a special screening of the film "#Yavolonter. Stories of those who care", which will be held on Saturday, December 6, at the Moscow gallery "Mosart". This film tells about real people whose lives have changed thanks to volunteerism, and about those whom they helped.
In addition, exhibitions, lectures and workshops are planned in the galleries and exhibition halls of the capital, during which you can learn about various areas of volunteer activity, get practical advice and ask questions.
How to congratulate on Volunteer Day on December 5th
Congratulating the volunteers on the holiday, first of all, they express their sincere gratitude for their hard work, time and mental strength, and also wish them further success in their noble mission. Teams often prepare letters of thanks, photo albums with project results for their volunteers, and organize warm, informal meetings.
What to give for Volunteer Day:
- a photo frame with photos of a volunteer group;
- memorable souvenirs with symbols of the volunteer movement;
- useful accessories and gadgets;
- books or magazines on the topic of volunteering;
- gift certificates;
- movie tickets, concerts, or master classes.
Congratulations on the 5th of December:
"Congratulations on the holiday of kindness and mercy! The work of volunteers is not measured by hours, but is assessed by the saved lives and smiles of those you helped. You are the real heroes of our time. May your energy never run out, I wish you good health and good luck in such a difficult but important mission!"
"Happy Volunteer Day to all caring people who do good not out of duty, but according to the dictates of their hearts. Your vocation is a quiet but powerful force that changes lives for the better. Thank you for being here. Good luck in your noble field!"
"Happy Volunteer Day! On your holiday, I would like to say a simple "thank you." For your patience, for your sensitivity, and for your willingness to lend a hand. You are living guardian angels for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. I wish you good health, spiritual light and endless faith in the important cause you serve!"
"Congratulations to all those who write the story of goodness with their own hands! Every action you take is proof that one person is capable of a lot. You don't expect changes, you create them. May your soul always remain as responsive, and your good deeds come back to you a hundredfold!"
"Happy Volunteer Day! Your help is not just business, but rays of warmth in someone else's trouble. You do not give time and strength, but hope and faith in the kindness of people. Thank you for making the world a brighter and more humane place by your example!"
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions of Volunteer Day in other countries.
All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
