International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations in 1985 to recognize the importance of volunteerism in achieving sustainable social and economic development goals worldwide. When people think of sustainability, they often associate it with the environment, but sustainability encompasses much more than that. Sustainability is about ensuring that future generations, including our children and grandchildren, inherit a world that is livable and prosperous.
The UN World Commission states that “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Through volunteerism, people make positive changes in their communities and worldwide. UCLA argues that “sustainability presumes that resources are finite and should be used conservatively and wisely with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of the ways in which resources are used.”
At Operation Xcel, volunteers invest their time and talent to help children develop habits and skills that will make a difference in their present and future success in school and throughout their lifetime. Operation Xcel programs primarily focus on STEM/STEAM areas, preparing the students for careers that will perpetuate conservative and wise use of resources with future generations in mind. As a result, the students gain self-confidence and certainty about their abilities to overcome challenges.
Volunteers are invaluable assets to any organization, and at Operation Xcel, they are priceless. They bring their life experiences and wisdom to students, requesting nothing in return for their compassion, kindness, and loving hands. Each volunteer touches children who may need that added special touch as an emphasis of their value and importance. This goes a long way for students who currently navigate communities and schools trying to find ways to remain safe and not knowing who to trust.
Operation Xcel is forever grateful for the part volunteers play in the development of the human component of sustainable development, which is our future generation - our Operation Xcel students! We could never envision success without "U" in it!
To all the Operation Xcel volunteers, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our youth! Everything that you do for the betterment of our students does not go unnoticed. Even when it seems that no one is paying attention, remember that you are planting seeds in the impressionable souls of our future generations. May they remember and call your name when students have their own families and have an opportunity to tell their children about the difference that you made in their lives at Operation Xcel!
