On December 5, we celebrate International Volunteer Day, expressing our gratitude to the numerous volunteers who contribute to the success of EUSA events.

Coming from different ages, backgrounds and nationalities, they invest their time and skills in supporting us while gaining new experiences, memories, and friendships.

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985, International Volunteer Day promotes the spirit of volunteerism and recognises the positive impacts made by volunteers worldwide. This year’s theme, “Every Contribution Matters”, highlights the power of collective action and the importance of every act, no matter how small it may seem.

This year’s celebration also marks the official launch of the International Year of Volunteers, a global initiative highlighting the crucial role of volunteering in achieving sustainable development. Everyone, from governments to civil society, is invited to actively participate by recognising the value of volunteers, measuring their contribution and ensuring safe and fair volunteering environments. 

EUSA is proud to support many volunteer opportunities, and grateful for the generous work done over the years by thousands of volunteers at our Games, Championships, and educational events. As an organisation, we place strong emphasis on promoting and recognising volunteering, offering trainings, providing feedback, and issuing certification documents after each event. 

Over 1000 volunteers are involved in EUSA events annually, bringing diverse skills and energy to ensure smooth operations, athlete support, media coverage, and community engagement.

Next year, volunteers will once again play a crucial role in supporting the European Universities Games Salerno 2026 and the European Universities Championship in Rowing and Combat Sports. The open call for volunteer registrations will be launched in mid-December.

EUSA is pleased to continue its partnership with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), with several volunteers assisting the daily activities of the EUSA Office on an annual basis. In 2025, we hosted two groups of three ESC Volunteers, and we offer our gratitude to them for their help. We also appreciate the work of our commission members, who voluntarily support the development of our organisation.

We invite everyone to stay informed about future volunteering opportunities and to join us in the development of volunteering and university sport.

For more information on volunteering, please see www.eusa.eu/projects/volunteering