Statement by President Mattarella to celebrate the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, released the following statement to celebrate the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development:

«Every day, millions of people voluntarily offer an incalculable contribution to the community.

It is a form of dedication that intensifies during humanitarian, environmental and climate crises, materializing in small and generous daily expressions of proximity.

Volunteerism is a spontaneous force at the service of individuals, a resource that supports institutions in charge of rescue and reconstruction operations, thus making their activities more effective.

The United Nations remind us that achieving the sustainable development goals requires the contribution of volunteers in order to defeat poverty, hunger and inequalities and to promote peace.

This year’s edition of International Volunteer Day, which is themed “Every Contribution Matters”, takes on a particular relevance as it opens the International Year launched by the UN to highlight the importance and need to integrate this priceless wealth of initiatives and values into the policies to implement the 2030 agenda.

The Republic is grateful to volunteers and their organizations for their valuable contribution of solidarity».