Volunteer Conference 2025
From 27 to 30 November, the 4th Volunteer Conference took place in Lviv, bringing together 285 participants from different regions of Ukraine
At the end of the year, Lviv became a place where the power of volunteering came alive. We are very pleased that 20% of all Conference participants were volunteers aged over 60, and 13% were volunteers under the age of 25. Four generations of participants came together, and a strong sense of unity, inspiration, and readiness to act filled every session hall and resonated in the hearts of each participant.
The Conference set as its goal the professional development of volunteers and the strengthening of volunteer centres, including through the engagement of older volunteers, the creation of a platform for developing and strengthening the capacity of community organisations and initiatives via the growth of volunteer centres, increasing programmatic capacity—including social programmes—and fostering partnerships and cooperation. All of this was reflected in every element of the programme, from lectures and sessions to practical workshops
In addition to JDC, partner organizations also contributed to the organization of the Conference. The Kesher Project offered participants valuable health-related sessions and warm surprises; Sokhnut, Hillel, the Transformation Platform, House of Europe, and Jewish communities of Ukraine contributed their professional expertise and important resources for the sessions. Poland's Help created a true miracle: together with bakers from France, participants baked 1,500 loaves of bread, which were distributed to Hesed clients and beneficiaries of social programmes in Lviv. This became a symbol of how volunteering can combine learning, action, and real assistance, and highlighted the importance of cooperation with social support programmes of community organizations.
The programme was intensive, featuring 86 sessions, allowing each participant to choose what best matched their interests, develop relevant skills, and deepen knowledge that contributes to the growth of volunteer potential and the strengthening of communities. Fifty-nine speakers shared their knowledge and experience during the Conference, with sessions by representatives of the Or Shalom programme and JDC staff being particularly valuable. The most productive component was the block of thematic group work, where participants—divided according to areas of activity and personal strengths—worked on enhancing personal and professional resilience and developing community potential through volunteer programmes. It was there that new ideas emerged, visions for the future took shape, and confidence in one’s own abilities grew.
A separate stage of the Conference was the Hackathon—collaborative work by volunteer activists, centre coordinators, and organization directors within their teams—which resulted in 13 new project ideas for implementation in communities. It was a moment when learning turned into action and inspiration into concrete plans.
The closing of the event was also special: the community vocal ensemble “Aviv” from Sumy delivered an outstanding performance that became an emotional finale, a symbol of unity and community strength, demonstrating how diverse and creative communities are.
The Conference became not only an educational process but also a powerful motivator for volunteers, coordinators, and organization directors. It enabled everyone to feel their significance, find new resources, develop their potential, and open space for self-realization within and for the benefit of communities.
These four days in Lviv proved that volunteering is not only about direct assistance—it is a path to community development, capacity building, and shaping a future in which support through self-sufficiency, resilience, and independence becomes the language of the community.