While we might assume that it is more focused on alleviating day-to-day sufferings or short-term problems, volunteerism can also revolve around a commitment to give your time to change a particular policy. Whatever your area of interest, you can contribute to the "Big V" by giving your time and knowledge to improve the policy-making space

Sunday, December 5, was International Volunteer Day, a day that celebrates the gestures of millions of committed and responsible citizens around the world.

Volunteerism, or swayamsewak in Nepali, is something in which all the citizens of this country should be proud of because if there were to be a global chart, this country, without any doubt, would be on the top of it or among the top five nations.

Perhaps, you might not define your daily gestures as volunteering, but with what now is emerging as a broader, wider and more holistic understanding of what constitutes volunteerism, you, the reader, are probably leading by example on how small actions can make a big difference.

We are talking about what I call the "Big V".

It is something intangible and hard to define, but it encompasses a vast array of actions that are driven by selflessness, kindness and gratitude – the three ingredients that, if properly scaled and embraced, will put our planet in much better shape. The "Big V" truly makes the difference.

It is granted to say that you can volunteer in a myriad of areas and in thousands of different ways, formally or informally, as long as you strive to impact and bring some changes in the society.

At ENGAGE, we promote sports for change, and we deploy (before the pandemic) the local youth with a love for sports who become trained coaches.

We always noticed how transformative it can be.

Bijay Lama, Sanjok Thapa, Kiran Sherpa, Prem Sundar Hona are great examples of unassuming, humble but capable folks who embraced sports for a good cause.

They always try to make an effort to create a level playing field by partnering with peers living with disabilities who always face difficulties in coping with the everyday activities.

Because we believe that the English language can be a game-changer for youth living with disabilities, we have Trishaana, who despite her busy full time job, is very dedicated over the weekends to share her knowledge of the language with those whom she now considers her friends.

This is not a piece about praising our "own" volunteers, but I could not do away without acknowledging our unsung heroes because, with their daily decisions and behaviours, embracing the right values, day by day, they are setting a benchmark on how to lead the "good" life.

Actually to be honest, Bijay, Sanjok, Kiran, Prem, Trishaana are not doing anything so special, and this is the way it should be because the Big V is not a nice add on but is a way of living – something that becomes a part of you.

Like them there are so many citizens, young and old, rich and poor, straights and gays who, no matter what, are always ready to serve.

This country is in many ways at the crossroads: the future is already rosy on many aspects, but there are still so many people lagging behind, struggling and not having a fair shot at life.

It is the gigantic issue of inequalities and lack of opportunities for many citizens who are still "blocked out" from a vibrant economy and the prospect of a country that, in few years, will take off, for good, the label of being a least developing nation.

In addition, considering the staggering challenges of transforming Nepal's economy into a greener one, where cutting edge start-ups can thrive and renewable technologies power the nation, we definitely need a system that recognises those citizens who care for the others and for their own communities.

In a sense, volunteerism is one of the best exemplifications of active citizenship.

While we might assume that it is more focused on alleviating day-to-day sufferings or short-term problems, it can also revolve around a commitment to give your time to change a particular policy, a shift that, you know, could make the country better.

Whatever it is your area of interest, you can contribute to the "Big V" by giving your time and knowledge to improve the policy-making space.

Transportation, start-up ecosystem, better urban planning, you name it, these are areas where your time and energies and knowledge could make the difference as part of a new way of thinking of the Social Contract between the government and the people.

Let's not forget: there is no one way of volunteering and be a part of the change as long as you try to do good and be good, always an imperfect and tricky aspiration.

This year's celebrations are focused on "Volunteer, Now for Our Common Future", and once again, under the guidance of United Nations Volunteers (UNV), there will be a National Volunteer Award and debate on ways to foster the "Big V" in the country.

Looking at the challenges ahead, UNV could not choose a better theme for this year.

We really need a systematic approach, a strategy that can make it easier for people of all walks of life to serve.

We need the commitment of the political leadership to give priority to volunteerism to ensure that many more citizens embrace it in a systematic way.

Yet politicians' buy-in will only go so far.

The citizens need to step up, especially those who never really lived up to the ideals and spirit of the "Big V".

The challenge is to involve them, finding, with creativity, new options for them to join what I would love to think as a movement.

Believe me it is transformational, and it is a force of good, and it is like a magic potion with no side effects.

The more you experience it and live it, the better you will feel, and as a consequence, the society as a whole will benefit.

Galimberti is the co-founder of ENGAGE, an NGO partnering with youths living with disabilities. He can be reached at simone_ engage@yahoo.com


A version of this article appears in the print on December 6, 2021 of The Himalayan Times.