The 33rd Volunteerism Week is an annual nationwide initiative organised and coordinated by the Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council (PVCC), under the Auspices of its Honorary President and First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus Mrs Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides.
Volunteerism Week, held annually from 1 to 8 December, will be celebrated within the framework of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026.
The initiative aims to highlight the importance of volunteerism as a means of promoting social solidarity, sustainable development, civic participation and collective action, while encouraging greater public awareness and active engagement in addressing social and other community needs. It also seeks to highlight the significance of United Nations’ International Volunteer Day, observed annually on the 5th of December, and to promote the values of voluntary service, cooperation, social cohesion and solidarity.
To launch the week, the PVCC invites organisations, civil society groups, public and private institutions, educational establishments, and other stakeholders to organise and implement voluntary activities that respond to the needs of society. These activities may include, among others, supporting vulnerable groups, protecting the environment, promoting social well-being, strengthening civic participation and advancing sustainable development.
The initiative emphasises that every act of voluntary service, regardless of its duration or scale, can make a meaningful contribution to improving quality of life and addressing social challenges.
Although 1–8 December 2026 marks the peak of Volunteerism Week’s related activities, voluntary initiatives may also take place before or after the designated week.
To facilitate coordination and promote wider visibility, the PVCC invites participating organisations and volunteers to post their volunteer activities through a dedicated online submission form. All posted activities are featured in the online Action Calendar of Volunteerism Week and the International Year of Volunteers (link: https://volunteerism-cc.org.cy/IVY2026/#draseis).
Through this initiative, the PVCC seeks to mobilise Cypriot society, strengthen a culture of volunteerism and highlight the contribution of volunteers and voluntary organisations to building an inclusive society characterised by strong bonds of solidarity and a commitment to sustainable development.
The 33rd Volunteerism Week therefore provides an opportunity to translate the values of volunteerism into concrete action in support of the broader United Nations sustainable development agenda, through participation, cooperation and initiatives that generate a positive and lasting impact on society.