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1. Historical developments

2. Main concepts

Historical developments

Based on the Cyprus report on volunteering across Europe (2009), voluntary activities in Cyprus traced their roots to philanthropic initiatives until the 19^th century. Primarily, these activities involved providing relief to those in need, embodying altruistic expressions of kindness, love, and a collective spirit of "helping one another," particularly during periods of hardship, destitution, and deprivation. During this era, philanthropy and charity were practiced by individuals, the State, and the Church as essential acts of community support and welfare.

In the 20th century, Britain delegated relief efforts to municipalities, established charity associations, and enacted social legislation to provide cash allowances. Voluntary activity is furthermore initiated to collect funds for the support of school infrastructures and to establish charity associations. Also, during that time, an important social legislation was enacted (namely the Charities Law, based on the Charity Law of England and Wales and the Clubs (Registration) Law of 1930) and other major improvements are recorded towards the establishment and development of voluntary initiatives and organisations to address various needs.

In time, the activities of organisations expanded to different fields and target groups including, amongst others, the mental health domain, the children with physical disabilities, the disabled, special education schools, family planning, prevention of crime and treatment of offenders, elderly care, general social and health services, etc. In 1963, the Community Welfare Council of the Nicosia district was established, with the task to act as a coordinating volunteer body. In 1968, the introduction of a Grants-in-Aid Scheme for voluntary organisations operated by the Department of Social Welfare enables the expansion or the introduction of programmes run by voluntary organisations. During these years, there was an official acknowledgement that the engagement of people as volunteers can bring not only an added value to community development, but can effectively address the needs of the communities, support social welfare, represent the interests of vulnerable groups and bring change in governmental policies.

Currently, Cyprus experiences a further expansion of programmes and activities run by volunteer-involving organisations, in more policy fields and ways of engagement. The activities of organisations cover the fields of social inclusion and welfare, environment, culture, human-aid, peace building, human rights, equal opportunities, development, sports, education, community development, empowerment of the social capital, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, etc. The youth volunteering emerges as an essential aspect in the lives of young people and is promoted by the public sector in schools, universities and by NGOs in extra-curriculum time.

Main concepts

Voluntary activity and volunteer is defined in the Declaration of the Rights and Responsibilities of Volunteers, which is an official reference document adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2013. The Declaration states that:

•  A voluntary activity is carried out by volunteers. The activity is done for a non-profit purpose aiming at improving the society and not replacing paid/salaried staff. The voluntary activity can be carried out by voluntary organisations or on the initiative of a “volunteer”.
• Volunteer is a citizen who, having free will, carries out activities for the benefit of the society. These activities are conducted without a motive of making profit/on a non-profit-making basis, contribute to the personal development of the volunteer, who devotes his/her time and energy to the general good without financial reward/remuneration.