The role of volunteers in today’s modern society cannot be underestimated.

Marking International Volunteer Day today, Executive Director for Fiji Council of Social Services Neil Maharaj says volunteers play a huge part in the running of communities.

“We describe them as the silent heroes and they usually work behind the scenes. If you look at any emergency periods, crisis or addressing Scio-economic issues in the country, volunteers are always one of the first respondents at the grass root level so it’s important that we recognize the contribution volunteers make in the country and in the lives of people but during cyclone Winston, we saw volunteers basically went out in the field.”

Volunteers form different organisations see volunteering as a way of giving back to society and promoting personal growth and self-esteem.