International Volunteers Day Conference & Awards Honoring Selfless Service
International Volunteers Day Conference & Awards
Honoring Selfless Service
Saturday, December 5th, 2026 | University of Lagos (UNILAG)
About the Event
Every year on December 5th, the world celebrates International Volunteers Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to honor people who give their time to serve others. This year, The Voluntary Club UNILAG (V-Club) is marking it with a full-day conference and awards ceremony that celebrates volunteers, communities and organizations whose selfless service makes a real difference.
The day brings together young people, volunteers, community leaders, partner organizations and sponsors for inspiring conversations, shared stories of service, and a celebration of the people behind the work. It ends with an awards ceremony where the winners, chosen through nomination and public voting, are honored in front of the whole community.
Why This Event Matters
Volunteers often give without being seen. This event puts their work in the spotlight.
Recognition: it publicly honors people and organizations whose service creates change.
Inspiration: it shows young people that volunteering is a path to skills, leadership and purpose, not just a line on a CV.
Connection: it brings volunteers, communities and organizations into one room, creating new friendships and partnerships.
Impact: it celebrates the results of service and encourages more people to start.
2026 is also the UN's International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, which makes this December 5th an especially meaningful one.
What to Expect
A conference celebrating volunteering, with stories of service and inspiring voices
Opportunities to meet volunteers, communities, partners and sponsors
An awards ceremony honoring individuals, communities and organizations
A community of about 1,000 young people
Free breakfast for the first 100 attendees
The Awards
The awards honor selfless service across four groups:
Individuals : Volunteer of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Leader of the Year, Emerging Volunteer, Community Impact Champion
Communities and teams: Best Volunteering Community of the Year, Best Campus / Youth Volunteering Community
Organizations: Best Volunteer-Driven NGO of the Year, Best Supporting Partner
Special: Unsung Hero Award, for someone doing great work quietly, without recognition
How the Awards Work
1. Nomination: Anyone can nominate individuals, communities and organizations for their service.
2. Screening: Each nomination is checked against the criteria for its category.
3. Public Voting: Screened nominees go to a public vote.
4. Winner: The nominee with the highest number of votes wins, and is announced at the event.
Who Should Attend
Students and young people who want to learn and be inspired
Volunteers and members of volunteer communities
NGOs, community organizations and social impact groups
Sponsors, partners and community leaders
Anyone who believes in the power of service
Take Part
Attend: register and bring a friend.
Nominate: recognize someone who deserves it.
Vote: when voting opens, support your favorite nominee.
Volunteer: help us run the day
Partner or sponsor: support the event and reach an audience of young people.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, December 5th, 2026
Venue: University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Organizer: The Voluntary Club UNILAG (V-Club)
About V-Club
The Voluntary Club UNILAG is a student-led organization at the University of Lagos built on the philosophy of "Utility through Service" and #BeyondService. We train and deploy volunteers, run structured onboarding and training, and believe in "Proof of Work": reliable, capable volunteers who deliver real results.
Contact
Email: thevoluntaryclubunilag@gmail.com
Phone: +234 817 099 5787
Instagram: @thevoluntaryclub | X: @thev_club | Linkedin: thevoluntaryclubunilag