International Volunteer Day | CETT presents a new report on international volunteering in Catalonia

On 5 December, International Volunteer Day is commemorated — a date established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 to recognize and give visibility to the transformative power of volunteering. Every year, it highlights the work of more than one billion volunteers who contribute, from local action to international cooperation, to addressing global humanitarian challenges and strengthening community well-being. 

Under the motto “Every Contribution Matters”, this year’s edition is particularly significant, as it marks the global official launch of the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development in 2026. This initiative, outlined in UN Resolution A/RES/78/127, calls for increased recognition of the essential role of volunteering in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Publication of the report on International Volunteering in the Catalan context 

Coinciding with the celebration of International Volunteer Day, CETT is presenting the report “International Volunteering in the Catalan Context: Processes, Practices and Representations”, authored by Marta Salvador Almela, lecturer and researcher in the Tourism, Culture, and Territory Research Group (TURCiT), and Noemí Ndumu, a student of the Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism. 

The study stems from the need to gain an in-depth understanding of how Catalan organizations dedicated to international volunteering operate. It therefore analyses both the processes of selection, training, and follow-up of volunteers, as well as communication strategies and social media management, particularly regarding the use of images in disseminating volunteering experiences. 

Through nine interviews with organizations active in Catalonia, the research provides a comprehensive view of the criteria used to prepare volunteers before their trip, as well as the support offered during and after their stay. This approach sheds light on the pedagogical and organizational dynamics, as well as the communication practices that shape contemporary international volunteering. 

Finally, the report includes practical recommendations to improve preparation, hosting and mutual understanding between organizations and participants, along with guidelines to promote more critical, responsible and respectful communication on social media. 

The publication forms part of the TURCiT group, specifically within the Tourism and Society line of research, and continues the scholarly work of Marta Salvador Almela in the field of volunteering and its representation on social media. 

You can access the report here.