On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, a ceremonial event took place in the grand hall of the Kyiv City State Administration in honor of International Volunteer Day, celebrated on December 5.
Over 80 volunteers who actively work in various fields and provide daily support to thousands of people in need were invited to the event. The ceremony served as a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude to these volunteers for their dedication, commitment, and contributions to the development of the Kyiv community.
Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Marina Honda, congratulated the activists on International Volunteer Day and thanked them for their daily efforts, humanity, and willingness to help others even in the toughest circumstances. She highlighted that it is thanks to the volunteer community that Kyiv and the country have been able to withstand critical moments, supporting those who needed it the most — from evacuating children with disabilities to providing humanitarian aid and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Volunteering is when you act not for rewards but for the sake of people. It is when you give your time and resources for others because your heart tells you to.
Volunteers have been the force that prepared food, transported people, and supported those in difficult life situations during the hardest days in 2014 and 2022. Thanks to the unity of the government, public, and volunteer movement, we stood strong then and continue to hold on today,” said Marina Honda.
She emphasized that the volunteer movement is an essential part of Ukrainian resilience: “I am confident that volunteering in Ukraine will only grow stronger because supporting each other is our national trait.”
Among the awardees was Svitlana Volynets from the organization “Center for International Relations,” who since 2014 has been helping military and civilians affected by Russian aggression. She noted that through partners in the USA, they received over a million tourniquets. The organization has delivered over 100 tons of food for displaced persons, supports orphanages, and organizes events for children. Svitlana states that her volunteering is a calling: “Helping people is a divine vocation.”
Another awardee is Anatoliy Matveyev, head of the NGO “Veterans of Military Counterintelligence of Ukraine.” This organization supports the Armed Forces, assists the families of soldiers and veterans. Volunteers also provide care for rehabilitation centers in Vorzel and surrounding areas, ensuring that people have access to necessary assistance close to home.
Matveyev emphasized that the recognition from the city authorities is an important acknowledgment of the long-standing work of volunteers.