A few days ago, I returned from Seoul, where I was invited by Volunteering Culture Korea (VCK) to take part in the 2025 Global CSR Forum. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been collaborating with their team on a project for Amazon that is generating incredibly valuable learnings for both organizations. Being able to meet in person, spend meaningful time together, and gain a deeper understanding of their local context greatly strengthened our partnership. At Volies, we always say that relationships are built through closeness and listening—this trip was a powerful reminder of that.
The event was impeccably organized by VCK in collaboration with IAVE. In her opening remarks, Nichole Cirillo highlighted something essential: 2026 has been declared by the United Nations as the Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development. It will be a pivotal moment to elevate the role of volunteering as a driver of social transformation and as a force capable of accelerating progress toward the SDGs.
2025 Global CSR Forum: “Globalization and Localization of Corporate Volunteering for the Future”
The forum focused on how global CSR strategies can more effectively engage communities through corporate volunteering. Hearing experiences from Korean companies and organizations—and from the wider region—was particularly enriching. One of the most striking aspects was Korea’s public policy supporting volunteering: the country has more than 200 volunteer centers that have support from the the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. They also have a national volunteering policy with a comprehensive approach to strengthening civic participation, specifically as a mechanism to address loneliness and social isolation—issues closely tied to high suicide rates and mental health challenges. Additionally, the 2026 policy will continue to focus on supporting older adults, revitalizing depopulated rural areas, and promoting a society prepared to respond to natural disasters. It’s a model that clearly illustrates how volunteering can become a powerful tool for social cohesion.
The private sector also shared strong approaches. CJ Group presented a CSR model deeply integrated into its value chain; IBM emphasized the importance of offering diverse options to make employee participation easier, recognizing that every person has different expectations, realities, and interests; Hyundai Mobis demonstrated how they adapt their global strategy to local contexts; and Kakao Mobility explained how they use their digital platform to encourage civic engagement among app users.
The value of volunteering as a space for connection
My contribution centered on the value of volunteering as a space for human connection—the foundation of any stakeholder relationship. Behind every strategy, policy, and outcome, there are always people. Keeping that human lens at the center is what enables the design of global programs that integrate local perspectives and create meaningful experiences for everyone involved.
I returned from Korea with a strong conviction: 2026 will be a year to rethink the future of volunteering together. While each country faces its own realities, global and multicultural dialogues open new possibilities. They allow us to broaden our perspective, identify shared opportunities, and strengthen volunteering as a mechanism to weave more connected and resilient societies.
At Volies Global, we want to continue contributing to that conversation. Next year will be an invitation to participate, share learnings, and build a collective vision. Because volunteering, at its core, always begins in the same place: people coming together to create positive impact.
