National Student Volunteer Day 2023: Date, History, Facts

National Student Volunteer Day is observed annually on February 20 to promote student volunteering and community service as well as volunteer innovation and discourse. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin founded the first organised volunteer organisation in the United States in a Philadelphia firehouse? Volunteering is the act of giving one’s time and resources to positively impact a community without the expectation of monetary compensation. Volunteering can occur in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, non-profit organisations, corporations, sporting events, natural disasters, and online. Rarely are volunteers compensated for their efforts. However, some organisations, such as the United Nations, do compensate volunteers for their living and operating expenses.

The background of National Student Volunteer Day

People have volunteered their resources in one way or another for the benefit of their community, nation, and, more recently, the world, since antiquity. In the military, the term ‘volunteer’ was used for the first time. In the 1600s, it originally referred to a person who volunteered for military service. Actual non-military volunteering began in Britain in the 12th century, when it was closely tied to religion. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the majority of Britain’s over 500 hospitals were run by volunteers. Volunteerism in the United States did not flourish until the nineteenth century, during the Great Awakening. Prior to that, the majority of people volunteered for military endeavours, such as the American Revolution. The exception was Benjamin Franklin’s establishment of a volunteer firehouse in Philadelphia in 1736.

The Young Men’s Christian Association first opened its doors in the United States in 1851. During the American Civil War, numerous individuals, primarily women, volunteered to assist soldiers on the frontlines. Clara Barton, one of the most notable Civil War volunteers, founded the American Red Cross in 1881. The 20th century witnessed an explosion of volunteerism and volunteer organisations, many of which are still active today. Rotary Club and Lions International are two of the most well-known.

After World War II, volunteer efforts in the United States shifted from local and national to international. Thus, organisations such as the Peace Corps (1961), Samaritan’s Purse (1970), and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (2000) were founded. Volunteerism in the United States continues to grow as a result of the proliferation of the internet and the accessibility of volunteer opportunities via mobile devices.

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National Student Volunteer Day: 5 FACTS

According to statistics, one billion of the approximately seven billion people in the world are volunteers.

Approximately 70% of volunteer work is performed informally by community members.

Up to 57 percent of volunteer work worldwide is performed by women.

People between the ages of 35 and 44 are more likely to volunteer than those between the ages of 20 and 24.

In 2016, Americans spent an average of $193 billion volunteering in their communities.

NATIONAL STUDENT VOLUNTEER DAY DATES