Volunteering

On December 5th, we celebrate the International Volunteer Day, reported the Bulgarian National Television.

For the first time, the day was celebrated in 1985 on the initiative of the UN when the world organization urged all parties to express their respect and gratitude to the volunteers, giving more visibility to their work.

As awful as major disasters may be, they tend to bring out the best in this country. It happened in the wake of the destructive flash floods in Mandra, west of Athens, and more recently after the lethal wildfires that ravaged Mati and other settlements east of the capital.

Volunteer groups, foundations, businesses and individuals all joined the relief effort.

"We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference," said Nelson Mandela, the human rights activist, visionary and statesman who spearheaded the end of Apartheid in South Africa.

On 27 June EU ambassadors confirmed an agreement between the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council and European Parliament representatives on a legal framework for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and a related budget for the period 2018-2020.

Spanish fireman Manuel Blanco (l) greets supporters upon his arrival at San Justa station in Sevilla, southern Spain, after being found not guilty in a trial where he and two other colleagues were accused for helping refugees to enter illegally in Greece, while volunteering on a NGO on the coasts of Lesvos island.

On December 6, 7 and 8, 2017, at the National Training Center of the Bulgarian Red Cross in Lozen, 100 volunteers will be trained for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, reports BNT.

And today, on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day, the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross demonstrates the strength of volunteering by rescuing victims of disasters.

Cooking, hairdressing, embroidery, painting, gardening, drawing, babysitting, handicrafts and reading.

In March last year thousands of refugees had arrived at the port of Piraeus after being ferried over from the eastern Aegean islands. The "Balkan route" had just closed and they were looking for a plan B. Among the volunteers helping them at the port were Natalie, Rita, Lily, James and Haley.

The financial crisis has seriously undermined Greece's fire prevention capabilities, the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned, while urging authorities to revive stalled plans for a volunteer firefighting unit.

SosyalBen Association has become the sixth Changemaker of the 7th season of the Sabanc? Foundation Turkey's Changemakers Program.

SosyalBen is a social responsibility association that helps children aged 7 to 13 living in disadvantaged areas discover and improve their social skills.