International Volunteer Day: Building our Common Future

December 5 is International Volunteer Day, a day coordinated by United Nations Volunteers to honour, recognize and promote the tireless work of volunteers across the globe. The theme of International Volunteer Day 2021 is “Volunteer Now For Our Common Future”.

It is estimated that there are 970 million people volunteering worldwide. This would be the equivalent of 125 million full-time workers. Estimates place the value of volunteer work at US$ 1.348 trillion or 2.4 percent of the entire global economy.

This global volunteer workforce is hugely diverse, but one thing they have in common is the desire to make things better. They strive to create a better future for the generations of tomorrow and to ensure that those who may be left behind are included. In doing so they are learning new skills, gaining valuable experience, and contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Threads of Life volunteers contribute to this global movement. Our 300+ volunteers spend an average of 8000 hours annually to offer support to families experiencing a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or illness and promote workplace injury prevention. Through sharing their personal stories of loss and grief, our volunteers are working to share our vision – to lead and inspire a culture shift as a result of which work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths are morally, socially and economically unacceptable – so that future generations may never have to know what it feels like to experience a workplace tragedy.

Our common future can include a reduction in traumatic workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths, in Canada and around the world. Almost every activity our Threads of Life volunteers engage in can have a direct impact on someone, making them think twice about their workplace, and how to make it safer, and understand the importance of doing so.

As we recognize International Volunteer Day 2021, we say thanks to all our Threads of Life Volunteers for your vision, action and dedication. Threads of Life could not exist without our volunteers. And we honour the work of volunteers around the world.