2026: A year to highlight the power of volunteering

2026 has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development. This decision highlights the essential role played by volunteers around the world and positions volunteering as a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Why is 2026 a special year for volunteering?

The UN occasionally designates international years to focus global attention on critical issues. In 2026, this recognition also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first International Year of Volunteering declaration and the 55th anniversary of the United Nations Volunteers program.

This year offers a unique opportunity to:

• Strengthen the social value of volunteering in all its forms: formal and informal, local and international.
• Increase the visibility of volunteer contributions, especially in areas where they have traditionally gone unnoticed.
• Integrate volunteering into public policies for sustainable development, recognizing its real impact on social transformation.

Volunteering and sustainable development

The UN resolution that proclaimed 2026 emphasizes that volunteer participation is an essential tool for achieving global development goals. Volunteering contributes in diverse areas such as:

• Education and reducing inequalities
• Healthcare and community resilience
• Environmental protection
• Social inclusion and intergenerational cohesion

At Fundación Exit, we deeply value this approach, because volunteering—especially with young people—not only supports worthy causes but also fosters skill development, social awareness, and responsibility, while strengthening a sense of community belonging.

A year ahead to rediscover the value of every contribution

The campaign for this International Year officially began on December 5, 2025. Within this framework, governments, civil society organizations, and volunteers committed to promoting measures to better recognize and measure volunteer contributions worldwide.

International initiatives such as the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering have also been launched, aiming to strengthen recognition, protection, and support for volunteers at all levels.

Volunteering in Spain: highlights and challenges

According to the report The Profile of Solidarity in 2025, prepared by the Volunteer Observatory of the Spanish Volunteer Platform, 10.5% of the population over 14 participates in volunteer activities, equivalent to over 4.4 million people.

The study shows some clear trends:

• 58.4% of volunteers are women
• The majority profile is aged 35–54, employed, and living in large urban areas
• More than half of volunteering is concentrated in the social sector, followed by health/social care and cultural sectors

These data reflect a committed society but also present important challenges: how to engage younger people in volunteering? How to make it compatible with realities marked by precariousness, lack of time, or job insecurity?

Fundación Exit’s involvement

At Fundación Exit, we believe volunteering is a transformative experience in both directions. It not only positively impacts those who receive support but also those who participate as volunteers.

As an organization that promotes preventing school dropout, youth employability, labor market integration, and opportunities for young people in vulnerable situations, we can affirm that:

• Corporate volunteering provides young people with transformative experiences, empowers them, and connects them to the realities of the labor market.
• Including volunteering experiences in business strategies strengthens socio-emotional skills, civic commitment, and ethical leadership.

This year is not just an opportunity to celebrate volunteering but to drive structural changes that strengthen it in the long term:

• Strengthen partnerships between social organizations, businesses, and governments.
• Promote volunteering that generates social impact and mutual learning.
• Recognize the value of volunteers’ time, knowledge, and dedication.

Because when someone gets involved, it doesn’t just change an individual story: it opens paths, creates opportunities, and builds a future.

In this International Year of Volunteering, we renew our commitment to youth who deserve real opportunities and to a society that believes in the power of collective engagement.