There are millions of people who manage to make a difference devoting part of their time to help others by volounteering. To highlight these efforts and encourage more citizens to participate, the European Commission has launched on 2 December the European Year of Volounteering 2011, which will involve a wide range of activities organized under the slogan of the year: “Volunteer! Make a Difference”.

The European Year of Volunteering 2011 aims to pay tribute to the millions of Europeans who take the time to make the world around them a better place, strengthening values such as solidarity and social cohesion. People who are more and more, as revealed by a Eurobarometer study released in May 2010, which shown that 3 out of 10 Europeans claim to be active in a voluntary capacity.

There are many different definitions and traditions concerning volunteering, but a common thread throughout these activities is that wherever people come together to help each other and support those in need, both society as a whole and the individual volunteers benefit. Through volunteering, people gain knowledge, exercise skills and extend their social networks, which can often lead to new or better employment opportunities, as well as personal and social development. The European Year of Volunteering 2011 aims and recognizing the work of all these people.

2011 European Year of Volunteering Main Objectives

• Lowering obstacles to volunteering in the EU
• Empowering volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering
• Rewarding and recognise volunteering activities
• Raising awareness of the value and importance of volunteering

To meet these goals, the Commission will encourage the exchange of good practices between Member States' authorities and volunteering organisations. The focus will be on training volunteers, accreditation and quality assurance, and efficient and effective match-making between potential volunteers and volunteering opportunities.

The Commission will encourage new Europe-wide networking initiatives to create cross-border exchanges and synergies among volunteer organisations and other sectors, especially with businesses.

All these actions fall within the framework of Commission's intense coordinated action, working closely with the “Alliance” of volunteering organisations, the European Parliament, the Member States, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Council of Europe and the United Nations Volunteers. Framed by these objectives and as one of the elements to improve the action and the coordination of volunteer activities, the Commission has recently also proposed to create a new European Voluntary Corps with the aim of improving action of EU's humanitarian aid.