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1. Historical developments
2. Main concepts

Historical developments

The tradition of volunteering in Slovakia is deeply rooted in the country's civic engagement history, shaped by social, political, and religious influences. Historically, volunteering was connected to church activities and community service. Over time, the concept has evolved, especially after significant political transformations such as the fall of communism. The establishment of organizations like IUVENTA – Slovak Youth Institute (today the National Institute of Education and Youth - NIVAM), operating under the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth, played a key role in shaping and supporting youth volunteering initiatives.

The evolution of youth volunteering in Slovakia reflects significant social, cultural, political, and religious influences:

• Middle Ages to 1918: Volunteering was primarily linked to church initiatives and guilds focused on charitable activities to assist marginalized populations (Kováčiková, 2000).
• 19th Century: National movements led to the development of cultural associations like Matica Slovenská, fostering associative life despite Austro-Hungarian restrictions (Brozmanová, et al., 2009).
• 1918–1939: The First Czechoslovak Republic saw an expansion of voluntary associations supporting social and health issues.
• 1948–1989: Under communist rule, voluntary organizations were state-controlled, though limited forms of dissident volunteering persisted (Tošner and Sozanská, 2002; Frič and Pospíšilová, 2010).
• Post-1989: The Velvet Revolution restored free assembly rights, leading to renewed growth in civil society and youth volunteering. Frameworks like the Youth Work Support Act (2008) and the Act on Volunteering (2011) formalized the volunteering landscape. The amendment to Act No. 406/2011 on Volunteering in 2023 further streamlined conditions for volunteers and organizations.

Main Concepts

Definition of Volunteering

The Act on Volunteering (2011) defines volunteer as a natural person who, on the basis of their free decision and without entitlement to remuneration, performs volunteer activity for another person with that person’s consent, based on their abilities, skills, or knowledge, and meets the conditions laid down by this Act, provided that the volunteer activity:

• is carried out outside their employment duties, service duties, and study obligations arising from the law, an employment contract, a service contract, study regulations, or another similar binding document;
• is not carried out for a body or an officer of a legal entity of which they are an employee, pupil, or student;
• is carried out outside the scope of their business activities or other self-employed gainful activity.

With regard to youth volunteering, it should be noted that, under the Act, volunteer activity does not include activities performed by persons under the age of 15.

At the same time, a volunteer who has not reached the age of 18 may carry out volunteer activity only with the consent of their legal guardian and only under the supervision of a responsible adult natural person.

Distinctions between Formal and Informal Volunteering

• Formal Volunteering involves structured activities within registered organisations, such as NGOs, educational institutions, or community groups.
• Informal Volunteering refers to community-based, less-structured activities such as neighbourly assistance, often unrecognised officially.

Differences from Other Activities

Volunteering is distinct from:

• Internships: Conducted for educational purposes and may be compensated.
• Community Service: Can be mandatory in legal or educational contexts.
• Employment: Involves formal contracts and financial remuneration.

Under this Act on Volunteering, volunteer activity does not include:

• activities carried out between spouses or between close persons;
• activities carried out within the framework of business or other gainful activity;
• activities performed within an employment relationship, civil service employment, service relationship, or activities carried out as part of study obligations;
• mutual civic or neighbourly assistance;
• activities performed by persons under the age of 15.

National and European Definitions

Slovakia aligns with European Union strategies that promote volunteering as a civic engagement tool. Although national and European definitions are generally aligned, minor discrepancies in interpretation may occur due to the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition.

The Youth Strategy of the Slovak Republic serves as a strategic framework to guide youth policy development, promote active youth engagement, and ensure the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes related to volunteering and civic engagement.

Participation Trends

For the total population of Slovakia, findings show a sharp decline in both organised and non-organised volunteering in 2025. Organised volunteering fell from 36.0% (2019) to 18.2%, and non-organised volunteering went from stable levels (47–53%) to 26.1%. Significant age differences emerged (p = 0.014), with the highest rate among youth (18–24; 26.2%). The character of engagement is also shifting toward more fragmented trajectories and less sustained participation over time. (Brozmanová Gregorová et al., 2025)