Every year, on the 5th of December, people all over the world come together to celebrate World Volunteer Day—a day dedicated to recognising the amazing work volunteers do everywhere. Whether it’s helping out during a natural disaster, planting trees, teaching underprivileged kids, or just lending a hand to a neighbour, volunteers make a huge difference in their communities and beyond.
Why World Volunteer Day Matters
World Volunteer Day was set up by the United Nations in 1985 to encourage and celebrate volunteer work across the globe. It’s a chance for organisations, governments, and individuals to highlight the positive impact that volunteering has on society. But it’s not just about charity—volunteering is a powerful tool for social change. Volunteers help tackle pressing issues like environmental sustainability, education, poverty, and healthcare, making the world a better place for everyone
Supporting Volunteer Initiatives for Lasting Impact
At Friends of the Biosphere, we strongly believe in the power of volunteers and volunteer-led projects to transform local communities. Through our initiative, we provide small grants to support and grow volunteer efforts that make a real difference. These “friends small grants” help expand the impact of community-driven initiatives which we refer to as Friends Projects.
Our small grants are made possible by local businesses committed to fostering positive change within their communities and the environment. We call these businesses Heroes of the Biosphere. These Heroes contribute monthly donations that are pooled to fund various Friends Projects, much like crowdfunding efforts, enabling us to support volunteer initiatives.
To discover the projects we are currently supporting, visit our website: Friends Projects.
How to Become a Friend of the Biosphere
We greatly appreciate and support nature-positive voluntary actions within the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR). If you have a project that aligns with our goals, you can apply for a small grant to help bring your vision to life.
Who Can Apply:
- Individuals, clubs, groups, schools, and non-profit organizations (NPCs/NPOs/NGOs)
Types of Projects We Support:
- Environmental Awareness: Initiatives that promote environmental education and the protection of natural resources.
- Example: Environmental message murals or educational workshops.
- Clean-up, Recycle, Upcycle: Efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices such as recycling and upcycling.
- Example: Community clean-up events or recycling drives.
- Indigenous Tree Planting: Planting indigenous trees to create green spaces and support local ecosystems.
- Example: Tree planting in schools or community spaces.
- School Environmental Projects: Projects that aim to improve the natural environment at schools or educate students about environmental sustainability.
- Example: School environmental club activities or educational outings.
- Citizen Science Projects: Community-driven research efforts where the public collects data for scientific study.
- Example: River monitoring using mini-SASS tools.
- Environmental Rehabilitation: Activities to restore damaged ecosystems and mitigate negative environmental impacts.
- Example: Invasive alien plant removal programs.
- Conservation of Indigenous Species: Protecting native plant and animal species and their natural habitats.
- Example: Conservation projects for indigenous species.
Region of Operation: Our small grants are available only for projects within the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve. View the region’s map to learn more.
Join the Volunteer Movement Today
Volunteering is a powerful way to make a tangible impact on your community and the environment. It’s never too late to start contributing.
If you’re interested in learning more or becoming a Friend a Hero of the Biosphere, visit www.friends.gouritz.com or contact us at friends@gouritz.com.
Let’s work together to create a positive change, one volunteer project at a time!