I don't belong to you!

Our (determiner)

Definition - belonging to or associated with the speaker.

Example - “This is our dog.”

International Volunteer Day (5 December) was a wonderful day to celebrate the millions of people who strengthen communities and create positive change. Yet I noticed many organisations and colleagues referring to “our volunteers.”

Who’s volunteers are they?  The manager’s? The community’s?

Language shapes inclusion and is a powerful tool for attracting volunteers.

When we use language that presupposes ownership, we unintentionally reinforce a power imbalance. Instead, we can empower communities by recognising that those who volunteer bring their own motivations, interests, and talents to their roles.

Volunteers don’t belong to us - we are their organisation. For-purpose organisations exist to support and amplify the contributions of community members, not to claim ownership over them. People volunteer because they are committed to a mission, a community, or their personal goals. Their loyalty isn’t to the organisation or its staff but to the cause they care about.

While volunteer is also a noun, I believe its most impactful use is as a verb:

Volunteer (verb)

Example - “I volunteer to help make my community a place where people thrive.”

Let’s honour volunteers by embracing language that celebrates their autonomy and contributions, fostering a culture of shared commitment to thriving communities.