Volunteering

The year 2011 is celebrated in Europe as the European Year of Volunteering. For a long time now volunteering has played an important role in the operation of the Churches of the Polish Ecumenical Council. Churches and Church charity organizations could only expand their operations due to unsolicited, unpaid and wilful actions for other people extending beyond family-colleague-friend relationships.

The Churches of the Polish Ecumenical Council take initiative in areas of social work for the elderly, handicapped, socially excluded, people in extreme and conflict situations as well as in emergencies. Voluntary workers are involved in nursing homes, diaconal stations, club rooms and other similar institutions.

Joining the celebrations of the European Year of Volunteering we promote the idea of volunteering and encourage getting involved in work for the benefit of others. Voluntary work benefits all society and enforces ties between its members. As for the volunteers themselves, it is an opportunity to do something useful and acquire new skills. It may take various forms of help in sport centres, schools, hospitals or charity organizations. Voluntary work gives the opportunity to utilize previous skills and experience in new areas, build friendships, and become involved in social affairs.

During the Polish Presidency in the European Union the Polish Ecumenical Council plans to organize in November 2011 an international conference for supporting and developing volunteering.