Building Resilient Communities through Volunteering

Be Bold, Make Change

International Volunteer Managers Day – 5 November

For Lindy Lely-Kawharu, Manager of Volunteering at Te Toka Tumai (ADHB), the future of volunteering is deeply connected to the strength and resilience of our communities. While trends like flexibility, inclusion, and hybrid volunteering models remain essential, Lindy believes the next era of volunteering will be defined by how well we work together to build social cohesion and prepare for the unexpected."

“For years, we’ve talked about the trends shaping volunteering — flexibility, hybrid models, inclusion, technology, and measuring impact,” she says. “These remain vital and they’re not going anywhere. But my personal lens on the future of volunteering is around social cohesion and community resilience. I see the next wave emerging from the grassroots — people helping people, neighbourhoods building strength from within.”

In an increasingly uncertain world, Lindy says that communities themselves will be at the centre of how we respond to global and local challenges. “We can’t sit back and wait for the next crisis to hit us. We must get ready — and we must get ready together.”

She notes that governments and funders are beginning to recognise volunteering as a strategic partner in tackling complex issues such as the Sustainable Development Goals and local wellbeing.

“Integrating volunteering into policy is key,” she adds, “but it’s equally crucial that communities have a voice in shaping the solutions that affect them. That’s democracy in action — and volunteering at its finest.”

Lindy’s own bold vision reflects this belief. She hopes to contribute to designing an emergency volunteer plan for the public hospitals of Health New Zealand — a network of trained volunteers ready to be mobilised in major emergencies. “This isn’t a ‘nice to have’. It’s a critical part of a resilient healthcare system,” she says.

Her call to other Leaders of Volunteer Engagement is powerful and clear:

“We’re not here just to manage change — we’re here to lead it"

Lindy continues, "Be bold. Advocate unapologetically for recognition, resources, and the strategic value of volunteer involvement. Invest in yourself and in each other. Challenge outdated structures and give volunteers a real voice. The world doesn’t need more volunteer managers — it needs courageous movement-makers. Be one of them.”