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December 5th • Altruism & Service

Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day (IVD), mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985, is observed on December 5th. Today, we debate the power of volunteering, the ego vs altruism debate, and whether mandatory community service for students and citizens is a good idea. Why do we feel the need to give back, and can volunteering truly change the world? Is any act of kindness truly selfless?

A group of volunteers working together in a community garden

Speaking Discussion

  • Have you ever volunteered for a cause or an organisation? What was your motivation, and how did it make you feel?
  • In your opinion, is any act of volunteering truly selfless, or do we always get something in return (e.g., a good feeling, experience, social status)?
  • Do you think that high schools and universities should make community service a mandatory part of the curriculum? What are the pros and cons?
  • How much of an impact can individual volunteering have on major global issues like poverty or climate change?
  • Is it better to volunteer your time (direct action) or to donate money (financial support) to a cause? Which is more effective?
  • If you were responsible for organising a community project, what issue would you focus on, and how would you recruit volunteers?

Activity 1: The service project Pitch

The Task: You are a Community Organizer. You need to pitch a new service project to a group of local residents.

What is the project, and why should they give up their Saturday to help?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The best reason to volunteer is..."
  • "I think mandatory community service is..."
  • "In my opinion, altruism is..."