My belief system holds the value of volunteering extremely high. It is on the same level with helping one another and having compassion. It has to do with any behavior in any shape or form, directed either at people or the environment. When it comes down to it, humanity is affected today and for the generations to come.

It is my belief that with volunteering you cannot go wrong. However, I have the feeling that you can certainly not “succeed” if we define even arbitrarily, the “success” of a volunteering program based upon the maximum results that can be achieved in relation to the resources that are available. I have formed this opinion based purely on my experiences that I have from voluntary services that I have undertaken mainly as an athlete, through voluntary actions I have observed for years that have been carried out by individuals, companies and organizations. They are also formed from the voluntary actions that I had the pleasure of offering both on a personal and a professional level.

My first on hand experience that I had with an organized volunteer program changed my perception of an entire nation. In 1996 I competed in the Paralympics in Atlanta, United States as a swimmer. At that time, Greece would have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Olympic Games which took place in Athens in 1896, and so there was the strong belief that the Olympic Games “belonged” to the Greeks.

As a result, when leaving for America at that time I was skeptical and wary of an entire nation. However, my experience with the American volunteers, many of whom had travelled thousands of miles away from their home, at their own expense, to offer their services always willingly and with a smile on their face despite their exhaustion made me feel that these volunteers are ultimately the “best” people in the country. As simple as it may sound to you through no intention of their own, they managed to change my mind about an entire nation.

I had similar experiences around the world, as an athlete, and especially in Australia where I lived and worked there for 1.5 years. An entire preparation schedule for races was devised by the volunteers, many of whom where retirees contributing to the community. It was a completely different culture compared to what we are familiar and know of here in Greece.

During my career in Marketing, Sponsorships, Fundraising, Sales, Sports and even in Advertising, I have had the opportunity to come into contact with hundreds of companies, both large and small. I have also personally met thousands of executives of companies and organizations. The noticeable difference in how and for what reasons they offer or not to the community and to fellow human beings has nothing to do with how big or profitable the organization is. It has to do with the people who work or lead a company. Companies, apart from legal institutions, are made up of people who work with people, for people, and try to communicate a humane entity through actions that concern people, society, and the environment.

This is where the development of corporate social responsibility programs and voluntary actions in recent years comes in.

Another question that needs to be raised, has to do with the ultimate purpose that these actions are carried out. For instance, are they designed, and do they focus on the real needs for intervention or are they superficial and are done purely for “show”?

Naturally, no one will say “no” to a voluntary clean-up action on one of the most famous beaches, with the success of the “excursion” being drained by the number or “likes” and “shares”. However, a company can do more, with no extra cost, in areas where there is greater need. All that is needed, is a little imagination or asking employees for ideas. If the management is determined, there are experts available who can advise a company or an organization on the appropriate balance between corporate social actions that will not only highlight the culture of the company but will also serve in the best possible way the purpose behind a voluntary action.