Category: cancer volunteering

The Visit of Love: a shared act of care and hope

In December 2025, Kapa3 took part once again the Visit of Love, an initiative by WinCancer that aims to bring warmth, presence, and emotional support to those who will spend the holiday season in oncology hospitals.

Once again, the response was deeply moving.

Cards and messages arrived from all over — through the post, by courier, in parcels both large and small, and sometimes delivered by hand. Each one carried a simple but powerful message: you are not alone.

Among them were cards written by preschool children, some with their very first letters, others expressed through drawings and colours. Messages full of innocence, light, and hope — “get well so we can eat Christmas cookies together.”

There were also messages from adults who had faced cancer in the past and now shared their words of encouragement together with their children, closing a circle of empathy and solidarity.

This action is addressed to everyone who will spend the holidays in oncology hospitals — patients, companions, and healthcare professionals alike — acknowledging the emotional weight of these days and the importance of human connection.

The process was intense, emotional, and, at times, chaotic.

Glitter and golden dust filled desks, clothes, and hair. While those traces will eventually disappear, the love, smiles, and hope that passed through our hands will remain.

For Kapa3, supporting initiatives like the Visit of Love is an essential part of our mission: to strengthen collaboration, promote solidarity, and contribute to actions that place human connection at the centre of care.

We warmly thank WinCancer for the trust and collaboration, as well as everyone who participated and offered a piece of their heart. Together, we can continue creating moments that matter.

Until next year, we hold on to the love, the hope, and the reminder that small gestures can make a big difference.

Text: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

International Volunteer Day – 5 December

Celebrating the people who give their time to make the world better

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated every year on 5 December, following a United Nations resolution that recognises the contribution of volunteers to peace, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
It is a day dedicated to acknowledging the millions of people who offer care, support, skills, and solidarity — quietly and consistently.

What volunteering means today

Volunteering goes far beyond goodwill.
It strengthens communities, bridges inequalities, supports public health systems and safety nets, and empowers people to take action where it’s needed most.

Across the world, volunteers contribute to:

  • health and patient support

  • social care and community services

  • disaster response and humanitarian aid

  • education and youth programmes

  • environmental protection and sustainability

  • advocacy for vulnerable groups

The scale of volunteering

Global landscape

According to UN Volunteers (UNV):

  • Around 862.4 million people aged 15+ volunteer every month worldwide.

  • This represents nearly 15% of the global working-age population.

  • The total global volume of volunteer work is equivalent to the labour of 109 million full-time workers.

  • Organised (formal) volunteering accounts for about 6.5%, while informal volunteering reaches 14.3% globally.

Volunteering in Greece

ILO (ILOSTAT, 2022) reports that in Greece:

  • 543,010 people engage in direct (informal) volunteering.

  • 669,712 people contribute through voluntary organisations.

These figures reflect a strong and active culture of solidarity, participation, and civic engagement across the country.

Volunteering and cancer care

In the field of cancer, volunteering plays a vital and deeply human role.
Volunteers offer:

  • practical assistance to patients and caregivers

  • support in navigating health services and rights

  • companionship during demanding procedures or appointments

  • participation in awareness and prevention activities

  • emotional support and empowerment

Their presence brings stability, trust, and hope during some of the most challenging moments in a patient’s journey.

Volunteering at Kapa3

International Volunteer Day highlights the dedication of Kapa3 volunteers and the fact that our volunteers are an essential part of our mission.
Through their contribution, they:

  • support patients and caregivers in their day-to-day needs

  • assist in awareness, prevention, and advocacy actions

  • strengthen our European programmes, research activities, and community outreach

  • bring compassion, knowledge, and willingness to every corner of our work

Thanks to them, our vision — no one should face cancer alone — becomes reality.

Become a volunteer at Kapa3

If you wish to support cancer patients and their families, contribute to your community, and become part of our mission, you can join our volunteer network.

Click here to join our volunteer team: here

On International Volunteer Day, the Kapa3 team honours those who not only give their time, care, and heart but also support patients and caregivers in countless ways.
To every volunteer: thank you for your kindness, your consistency, and your strength.
Thank you for helping us build a world of dignity and hope.

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Sources

United Nations Volunteers (UNV), State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (2022)

International Labour Organization (ILO) – ILOSTAT, Volunteer Work Statistics (Greece, 2022)

Trvst – Volunteering Facts & Global Volunteer Work Analysis