Volunteering as the idea of social service is almost as old as the concept of "society". In a society have always been people for whom the way of self-realization, self-improvement, communication and communication with other people was the work for the benefit of the community in which that person happens to be born and / or live. However, only in the twentieth century, the individualism of the war and smelling the European continent was volunteering to get features of universal social phenomenon. After the First World War, in 1920 in France, under the Strasbourg was carried out the first volunteer project with the participation of German and French youth, in which volunteers to rebuild their shattered the 1 st World War the farm in the district places the most fierce fighting between German and French troops. Since then, the volunteer has managed to gain scale and popularity worldwide. In volunteering defined various forms, types and duration of activity (Glossary). Involvement in volunteering has no religious, racial, age, gender, and even political boundaries. Numerous multinational platform and network of volunteer NCOs (non-profit organizations) are attracted to their projects and programs over hundreds of millions of people every year.

A few figures from the development of volunteering 80-90's last century. 1987 - 80 million volunteers in 1995 - more than 93 million in 1998 - more than 109 million people participated in volunteer activity. Eight out of ten said they were volunteers from a deep sense of compassion for people in need. More than three quarters of all respondents were interested in the specific tasks assigned to the volunteer project. About 70% of the volunteers involved in volunteer programs in order to get a new perspective on life, people, work. 19% of the adult population of France at least once in your life have participated in volunteer actions. Of these, 60% regularly participate in volunteer work, giving her more than 20 hours per month. 46% of respondents said they were volunteers, because they feel a great desire to help drugim.Kazhdy third German - 34% of the population of Germany - is a volunteer, dedicating the work in the voluntary associations, projects and support groups more than 15 hours month. Population 
consider volunteering a unique opportunity to obtain life skills and experience. 26% of Japanese people have the experience of volunteering in the past. 48% believe that volunteer work is very useful for personal growth and society as a whole. About 33% of the population of Ireland are volunteers. The total amount of time given up for volunteer work, equal to 96.454 operating hours per year. 72% of the population believes that volunteers are doing something that can never be done hands-paid employees