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The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development and the Role of GreenVET in Sustainable Education

The United Nations General Assembly’s decision to declare 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) places volunteerism at the heart of global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Led by UN Volunteers, this initiative recognises the essential contribution that volunteers make in advancing sustainable development, from climate action and social inclusion to education, health, and community resilience. Launching in December 2025 with a global call to action, IVY 2026 invites governments, institutions, civil society, and individuals to strengthen the role of volunteerism as a driver of positive change.

At its core, IVY 2026 focuses on recognising and better measuring the social and economic value of volunteering, integrating volunteerism into national and local development strategies, fostering strong cross-sector partnerships, and creating enabling environments where volunteers can act safely and effectively. These priorities resonate strongly with the objectives of the GreenVET Pathway project, which promotes a Whole Institution Approach to sustainability in vocational education and training. GreenVET recognises that meaningful change in VET schools cannot be achieved without active participation, collaboration, and engagement across the entire school community and beyond, values that lie at the heart of volunteerism.

Throughout its activities and deliverables, GreenVET has embedded the spirit of volunteering by encouraging schools to engage learners, teachers, and staff in sustainability initiatives that extend beyond the classroom. The GreenVET Framework supports VET institutions in aligning governance, teaching and learning, partnerships, and campus practices with sustainability principles, often relying on voluntary action, initiative, and collaboration. Similarly, the GreenVET Online Path and the upcoming database of best practices showcase real-life examples where students and educators actively contribute their time, skills, and creativity to environmental and social sustainability actions, frequently in cooperation with local communities, NGOs, and external stakeholders.

IVY 2026 also highlights the importance of partnerships between education providers, public authorities, civil society, and the private sector. This aligns closely with GreenVET’s emphasis on building networks that support sustainable transformation in VET. By promoting community engagement, service-oriented learning, and collaborative initiatives, GreenVET demonstrates how volunteer-driven actions within VET schools can contribute directly to the SDGs while equipping learners with green skills, civic responsibility, and a sense of agency.

As the world moves closer to the 2030 Agenda deadline, IVY 2026 offers a timely opportunity to amplify the impact of volunteerism within education. GreenVET stands as a practical example of how VET institutions can harness volunteer energy and commitment to create lasting change, empowering learners not only as future professionals, but as active contributors to a more sustainable and inclusive society.