The launch of the International Volunteer Year was announced at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The official launch of preparations for the International Year of Volunteers in the Russian Federation was announced on 3 December during the solemn award ceremony of the International Prize #WEARETOGETHER at the National Centre RUSSIA. The historic resolution of the UN General Assembly proclaiming 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development was supported by 54 states, including Russia. The launch of the International Volunteer Year in Russia was given by the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme, Toily Kurbanov.

"Thanks to #WEARETOGETHER initiatives, the year will be truly special, because it was precisely such initiatives that inspired UN member states to unanimously adopt the General Assembly resolution proclaiming 2026 the International Year of Volunteers. And note, with full consensus," said Toily Kurbanov.

The United Nations has set ambitious goals for countries participating in the International Year of Volunteers:

— to recognise and measure the real contribution of volunteers to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;

— to integrate volunteering into national development plans;

— to create knowledge platforms for sharing best practices;

— to develop new forms of volunteering that respond to the challenges of the time.

"We welcome Russia’s decision to take an active part in the events related to the Year of Volunteers. There is a saying: ‘There is always room for heroism in life’, but it is better if it never comes to that. Volunteers are the people who do everything to ensure that heroism is never required — that help becomes normal rather than emergency, that solidarity becomes a practice rather than an exception. This is exactly what the International Year of Volunteers, 2026, is about," said Toily Kurbanov.

Russia makes a significant contribution to the development of international humanitarian cooperation, including through the #WEARETOGETHER Prize. A large-scale system of public and state support for social projects — from grants and educational programmes to acceleration platforms — has become an important tool for bringing like-minded people together and implementing initiatives around the world, he noted.

The fifth season of the #WEARETOGETHER Prize also confirmed its status as the largest platform for supporting and recognising social initiatives on a global scale. Over five years, the number of participating countries has increased 2.5 times — from 59 to 147 states. This year, the international track #WEARETOGETHER received more than 4,000 applications from participants across all continents.

Russia’s participation will make it possible to unite the efforts of the state, the non-profit sector and the business community in developing the volunteer sphere. At the international level, the initiative will strengthen the country’s humanitarian presence abroad and reaffirm its role as one of the leaders in social development. Holding the International Year of Volunteers also aligns with the national priorities of the Russian Federation, according to which the share of young people engaged in volunteering must reach 45% by 2030.

The International Prize #WEARETOGETHER is established by Rosmolodezh. The organiser is Dobro.rf. The general partner of the Prize is Alfa-Bank, and the strategic partner is Rosatom State Corporation.