The days are getting shorter, the leaves are falling, sweaters are coming out of the closets… and in the blink of an eye, Christmas will be here!
This time of year is truly special. On December 5 we celebrate International Volunteer Day, and this year also marks the start of the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development. Both companies and individuals embrace values like solidarity, sharing, and togetherness — inspiring us to celebrate with purpose.
At Volies, we encourage you to design a Christmas with impact — a Christmas that adds value and, as the Sustainable Development Goals promote, moves forward “leaving no one behind.”
Ideas for a Christmas under the banner of solidarity
1. Get inspired by Voluntare’s Volunteering Hub
This year, 56 initiatives have been presented, many with a Christmas spirit — perfect to share in your company or with your family. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can also revisit some ideas from ¡Misión Navidad! 2024: intergenerational workshops, donation drives, toy campaigns, or activities to accompany elderly people.
2. Organize a “triple-impact” charity market
A simple yet powerful action: the company can buy products made in special employment centers and/or solidarity merchandise from various NGOs, sell them to employees, and donate the proceeds to those same organizations. It’s a double act of solidarity — which becomes triple when volunteers help organize the market (a key aspect, since most NGOs lack the resources to handle all the requests they receive).
3. Christmas hampers with purpose
Replace traditional hampers with solidarity versions: local, sustainable products, or items made by groups at risk of exclusion. That way, each gift becomes an opportunity to support those who need it most. And why not assemble them together with your volunteers and people with disabilities from a local organization? The love behind it will make the gift even more special.
4. Volunteering at your Christmas dinners (or solidarity actions instead!)
Why not turn your company celebrations into meaningful experiences? You can organize a volunteer activity before or during the dinner — or even replace the dinner with a group solidarity project. Sharing time and energy creates a much more lasting memory than any toast ever could.
Volies’ Most Special Project
This year, at Volies, we’ve designed something truly special: solidarity advent calendars, which we’ll even be implementing in Copenhagen!
Each calendar is created for children in vulnerable situations, elderly people living alone, or to promote cultural integration. Behind each one lies a story, a shared value, and a smile that multiplies.
Customized, unique projects — designed with care — to achieve the greatest possible impact… in true Volies style.
