Volunteering is a type of unpaid activity done based on free will and an independent choice. This activity is aimed at the improvement of the life quality of people. For instance, assisting disabled people, the low-income group of the population, elderly, refugees and IDPs, preservation of the cultural historical treasure, environmental protection and maintenance of the ecological balance, promotion of peace culture and tolerance and so on. This is one of the reasons President Ilham Aliyev has declared 2020 the “Year of Volunteers” in Azerbaijan.

What is the meaning of people working for free, as a volunteer? It is a simple question, but many people are interested in the answer. When we address this question to those, who began their career from volunteering, the answers we receive are almost the same: The road leading to success starts from volunteering.

Volunteering – helping people, developing some sphere without expecting any financial benefits show how valuable this work is. It provides great experience, new people and self-confidence.

Today, there are millions of people who work for the benefit of the world public and society’s interests for free.

In recent years, volunteering has become a national movement in Azerbaijan. It has spread in all regions of the country and all spheres of the public life and envisages all groups of the population. Volunteers have given a new life to this activity by their creativity, initiative, innovative mindset and modern outlook.

Volunteers have played an irreplaceable role in the organization of such large-scale international events as the Eurovision Song Contest, the I European Games, Formula 1, the IV Islamic Solidarity Games.

Young people and volunteers organizations came together at Baku Youth Center in connection with the declaration of 2020 the “Year of Volunteers”. Discussions on the promotion of volunteering, the projects and events to be implemented throughout the “Year of Volunteers” and new initiatives were held.  

Aysham Rustamova