International Volunteers Day 2020 is dedicated to thanking volunteers for being at the frontline of the COVID-19 response, addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic, making sure everyone stays safe and being there for people and planet!

Volunteerism is all about giving a part of you. It is not about giving something spare and something which is not useful to you. It is not what is there in for me; it is about what I can give to others. Caritas India acknowledges and celebrates the spirit of volunteering on “The International Volunteer Day” every year. The day is celebrated to mark the contribution of our volunteers in realising the mission and vision of Caritas India.

Caritas India on 5^th December 2020 launched a virtual volunteering marathon “#TogetherWeCan” wherein every small volunteering acts done and celebrated by volunteers across India will be connected through #TogetherWeCan. For 14 days photographs/videos of every volunteering act done by any volunteer across the country shall be clicked by the volunteer and posted to their social media handles. Caritas India shall be tagged on every platform the activity shall be posted along with #TogetherWeCan #IVD2020 #volunesia. The launch was enhanced by Caritas Samaritans joining the event live from the field while conducting their regular volunteering activity. Fr Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Caritas India in his welcome address highlighted the importance of celebrating life. He also emphasised on volunteering being a form of celebration of life. Each volunteer is fortunate to attain the happiness of supporting the one who is in need.

Ms Mini John, Caritas Samaritan, joined from Khadki, Pune wherein she was conducting classes for slum children of classes 11^th & 12^th. While sharing her experience she mentioned that through this volunteering act she can educate children who are not able to have access to quality education. Especially during the lockdown, the children living in slums are not able to access the internet hence, Mini, the proud Caritas Samaritan is rendering education to them. Caritas Samaritans team from Kottapuram, Kerala joined the meeting; a team of 21 volunteers were actively involved in COVID19 response through an awareness program, mask distribution and cleaning drive. Ms Chanda Devi, Caritas Samaritan joined next from Maharashtra where she was seen conducting an SHG meeting with a group of women from the village. She has been actively involved in facilitating the women’s group from past 2 years. 6 Caritas Samaritans as part of the Ashakirnam Campaign came live showcasing their involvement in palliative care, giving counselling support to Cancer patients along with their family members and hygiene kit distribution. Mr Sushil Kumar, Caritas Samaritan, Bihar joined the meeting with his team of volunteers conducting plantation drive. Mr Jerry, Caritas Samaritan joined from Pune; he has been supporting in documenting evidence of the program conducted on field. Especially during the recent COVID response. Mr Tony Thomas, Caritas Samaritan, Chandigarh host for the virtual event summarised the sharing received from the field along with adding his share of volunteering experience.

#TogetherWeCan shall culminate on the 19^th December 2020 with the celebration of “VOLUNESIA” – the award ceremony for Caritas Samaritans. VOLUENSIA is conducted as part of IVD celebrations, Caritas Samaritans are awarded for their relentless services rendered as volunteers throughout the year. This edition of VOLUENSIA will witness testimonies from Caritas Samaritans along with special awards for special volunteers who have been role models in the country during the pandemic.