And there’s so much to say about it! Long gone are the days when Volunteering was only possible for those who could commit themselves constantly, at a set time and place, with a faithful presence and guaranteed continuity. Today, lives are different; we juggle a thousand places and responsibilities, chasing the clock, begging for enough time to do it all, and for the twenty-four hours in a day to multiply. And how unfair would it be if the desire to help, support, and be present were limited by the fact that the pace of life is accelerating?

Today, we all have the space to do Volunteer Work, regardless of the time commitment we can offer. In truth, if the heart is in the right place, it doesn’t matter if that place has an address on the map or a weekly time slot in the calendar; what matters is that it makes us feel present with those we’re spending time with and that we share the precious gift of time with them. What matters is that it makes a difference and adds value!

This edition of “Conversations with Impact” will focus on Volunteer Work and its transformative power, on the people who do it and the people who receive it. This is the kind of work we want to continue promoting.

Volunteering is part of the DNA of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa. We have been committed to this cause for many years, and countless Volunteers have left and continue to leave their mark, contributing to the happiness of others across the various facilities that make up this institution.

And like Santa Casa, many other Organizations believe that Volunteer Work adds value to everyone involved. These Organizations and Companies are attuned to the passage of time and the changes it brings, attentive and responsive to the transformations in society and the fast-paced rhythms of life for so many of us. Because the truth is, this is a two-way relationship in which the needs of both parties must be met, creating conditions so that this type of “service” is accessible to everyone and can reach new audiences who also want to be part of it, even if they don’t know how.

According to the Trends, Current and Future Challenges described in the Recommendations of the Final Report of the Study on the Collection and Analysis of Data on the Volunteering Sector in Portugal, commissioned by CASES – António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy (2025): “Volunteer-Promoting Organizations (VPO) indicate, however, a shift in the profile of volunteers, with a growing trend, especially among younger people, to prioritize volunteer activities associated with causes and requiring less commitment in terms of regularity and continuity. (…) Given the changes in the profile of volunteers and in our society, the information gathered indicates that there is a need for current Volunteer Promotion Organizations and other Civil Society Organizations to rethink Volunteer Work and the volunteer activities they offer.”

There is nothing more important in Volunteering than People. And it is People we want to continue reaching; it is civic mobilization focused on others that builds more compassionate societies and more connected citizens through empathy and care. In this Conversation, we will also talk about the future and how we can continue to build a Society of Impact from People to People.

Volunteering is the embodiment of a struggle against the indifference that daily life can make contagious.

Don’t let yourself be infected. Start by joining this conversation and signing up here.

Join us at Casa do Impacto on March 26 at 3:00 p.m.