Today, December 5, we celebrate International Volunteer Day. We would like to thank all the work done by the volunteers in Sant Cugat, for this reason we leave you the Manifesto read yesterday at the celebration.
International Volunteer Day Manifesto 2018
We live in a society that is in a hurry, that wants everything at the moment, now. That he often doesn’t look at what’s around him, doesn’t stop.
Today we are gathered here to thank people who freely and selflessly give part of their time to improving the world in which we live.
We are here to celebrate International Volunteer Day together.
To volunteer is to know that solidarity, commitment, generosity, fidelity and dedication to others has no age, gender or nationality, or any other condition. It is to participate actively, anonymously and altruistically to build a better present and future, believing in the ability and will of people.
Volunteering is called to persevere and participate in the right path of history, people and communities to become an agent of change, able to put the values of volunteering at the center of the gaze: word and action. And we are doing today, people must position themselves to create a better society step by step.
All this would not be possible without all those volunteers who dedicate their time without expecting anything in return.
Without expecting anything even though all of us here know that in the end we receive a lot, often more than we can afford to give. Being a volunteer sometimes means stepping out of our comfort zone and discovering new experiences that carry our life backpack.
Accompany other people during any weekend, spend the afternoon doing leisure activities for the elderly, do school reinforcement with children or hold meetings at inopportune hours. Teach the language, organize environmental conservation activities or travel often to other places to lend a hand where needed. These and many other actions surely define the day-to-day life of all of you.
Surely if we asked why you do it we would find answers like: I feel useful, I help others, I learn … and many other reasons. But we believe that what unites us and drives us all is the Motivation to do what we do, because we like it, because we feel comfortable with it, because we have a vocation for service.
Today we have been given the opportunity to represent, as entities, the volunteers of Sant Cugat and to be able to thank you personally and directly to all the volunteers. Committed people, who give of themselves in order to help others through the various actions and volunteer projects. People who put their grain of sand to achieve a better world in which to live. And you mobilize, get involved, and work toward that goal, without expecting anything in return, and with the conviction that participating and helping others is the way forward.
Sometimes giving thanks isn’t enough but we wouldn’t want to end those words without acknowledging this work you do throughout the year, often in silence.
We must never forget that people, in small places, doing small things, have the power to change the world.
Thank you so much everyone!