(involved more than 4 times)
persons (IDPs)
Caritas is a network of charitable organizations founded by the Church.
Its mission is to foster traditions of charitable work and carry out social activities based on Christian moral and ethical values.
Caritas provides assistance to those in need, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or age, guided by Christian values.
Volunteer work is an integral part of Caritas’ efforts. Every year, local organizations engage volunteers in charitable activities, provide targeted assistance to the needy, expert support, and spiritual care.
Volunteers help Caritas staff deliver higher-quality services, reach more beneficiaries and partners, and launch initiatives in new regions.
With the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, volunteer development within the Caritas Ukraine network began to grow rapidly. Before 2022, the Caritas Ukraine network involved around 600 volunteers, whereas between 2022 and 2024, the numbers increased significantly, and Caritas Ukraine has engaged over 10,000 volunteers.
age distribution
aged 18 to 35
aged 35 to 50
aged 50+
Goal of the volunteer program
The Caritas Ukraine network actively develops the volunteer movement, opening new opportunities for those wishing to join. Our goal is for each volunteer to have the opportunity not only to provide assistance, but also to leave a lasting positive mark on the lives of those to whom they give their time and attention. Through continuous improvement of training, support, and development programs for volunteer initiatives, we aim to create conditions that foster positive change in the lives of Ukrainians and contribute to improving well-being and solidarity.
Social service, which systematically works with volunteers, not only reinforces the values of compassion and love but also encourages everyone to take responsibility for their community and environment.
Volunteer work format
Caritas local organizations are responsible for direct volunteer management, including recruitment, task assignment, and community building.
The general stages of working with volunteers are as follows:
A request is formulated to determine what event or task requires volunteers. Volunteer coordinators create a profile for the volunteer suited to the specific task. For example, if physical labour is needed, the request will target men, and if working with children, prior teaching experience or a willingness to learn will be required, and so on.
Local Caritas organizations recruit volunteers for specific tasks or projects. Each Caritas local office maintains an internal communication chat for volunteers, where all volunteers associated with the organization and ready to help are connected. When volunteers are needed, an announcement is made in the chat describing the task and volunteer profile. Other platforms such as the local Caritas website, local social media groups, forums, media outlets, flyers, public speeches, and word-of-mouth may also be used to recruit volunteers.
Role of the national office
At the national level, we support local organizations with a unified systematic approach, project development to finance volunteer coordinators at local organizations, and volunteer work management.
Caritas Ukraine develops a systematic approach to organizing volunteer work: methodological documents are created, common guidelines are established across the network, and recommendations for procedures (SOPs) within projects are developed. Every two weeks, volunteer coordinators hold meetings for synchronization.
Our goal is to ensure the sustainable development of volunteering within our network. As a result, almost every organization in our network now has a dedicated specialist responsible for volunteer work in various projects.
Projects involving volunteers
Volunteer assistance is vital across all areas of Caritas’ work and in all regions. Volunteers are engaged in both crisis humanitarian response (primarily in eastern regions) and stabilization and development projects in regions further from the conflict zones.
The largest number of volunteers is involved in four key areas:
Assistance
Humanitarian Aid
Children
of Humanitarian Aid
Regular volunteers also actively participate in children’s projects, activities for the elderly, and home care services.
Who can be a volunteer?
We welcome anyone willing to volunteer. There are no age, gender, or capacity restrictions for volunteers. There is always a type of activity that suits everyone’s abilities without being overly burdensome.
The only legal restriction is that volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and those between 14 and 18 years of age require parental consent to volunteer.
13% of the network’s volunteers are elderly people. Seniors come to Caritas for companionship and a comfortable environment. They feel useful and benefit personally from the experience as well.
Volunteers from abroad often join Caritas Ukraine’s projects. Approximately ten Caritas organizations, primarily in western Ukraine, are open to international volunteering due to the security situation in the country.
Value for society and individuals
The development of volunteer programs within Caritas is crucial not only for fulfilling our mission, but also for strengthening the communities where we work and for the personal growth of each volunteer.
Volunteering is the foundation of civil society, fostering solidarity and strengthening communities.
as a value
as a way to give back
in volunteering
Value for society and individuals
Volunteer work is voluntary and unpaid; however, organizing this activity requires financial support. Thanks to Caritas’ partners from other countries, our volunteer network is powerful and well-organized.
Partner support allows us to finance the work of volunteer coordinators who directly engage with volunteers at the local level. Additionally, thanks to partner funds, we can develop projects, implement spiritual formation events, and create methodological recommendations — all of which help develop the volunteer movement in local organizations and foster a culture of volunteering within communities.
We are grateful for the stable support of our partners: Caritas Europa, Caritas Austria, Kirche in Not, Renovabis, USCCB, and CNEWA.
The role of volunteers in caritas development
Our partners
Volunteer work is voluntary and unpaid; however, organizing this activity requires financial support. Thanks to Caritas’ partners from other countries, our volunteer network is powerful and well-organized.
Partner support allows us to finance the work of volunteer coordinators who directly engage with volunteers at the local level. Additionally, thanks to partner funds, we can develop projects, implement spiritual formation events, and create methodological recommendations — all of which help develop the volunteer movement in local organizations and foster a culture of volunteering within communities.
We are grateful for the stable support of our partners: Caritas Europa, Caritas Austria, Kirche in Not, Renovabis, USCCB, and CNEWA.
Catalog of best practices
in volunteer programs
Working with volunteers is not only theory but also practice.
Nationwide Practices
Involving Volunteers in the “Easter Basket” Campaign
The Easter Basket is an annual nationwide campaign during which volunteers collect charitable donations to form Easter baskets. Residents can participate by leaving food donations in stores and supermarkets.
Nationwide “Letters to St. Nicholas” Campaign
Letters to St. Nicholas is a charitable campaign for the foundation’s young beneficiaries, who can write letters sharing their achievements and successes. Volunteers prepare a festive performance and sweet gifts to celebrate the children during the holidays.
SOVA — Social and Educational Volunteer Academy
SOVA is a volunteer training program that prepares volunteers to work with Caritas beneficiaries as part of the “Development of Social Service” project in 11 local organizations. During the training modules, volunteers learn essential information about working with different categories of beneficiaries.
Involving Volunteers in the “Social Wardrobe”
The Social Wardrobe is a project aimed at providing vulnerable populations with free clothing and footwear. Volunteers work shifts at the distribution point, where they receive, sort, and distribute charitable donations from city residents.
Volunteer Fundraising in the “School Backpack” Project
The School Backpack is a charitable campaign held at the start of the school year, where volunteers collect school supplies for children from vulnerable categories.
programs
LIVELIHOOD
Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)
Social service
Volunteering
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