Discovery joins global launch of International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026

Johannesburg, 08 December 2025 – On 5 December 2025, Discovery joined leaders from civil society, business, and the public sector to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) at the UN Headquarters in New York.

This year’s IVD marked the official launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY) 2026. This milestone event created a powerful platform for key role-players to pledge concrete actions to operationalise the UN resolution 78/127. At its core, IVY 2026 calls on governments, civil society, academia and the private sector to integrate volunteering into development strategies. This year-long global campaign will spotlight volunteerism as a powerful driver for achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, echoed this call to action in a media statement saying, “over the next 12 months, I urge everyone, everywhere to volunteer for a cause that matters to you. In times of crisis and uncertainty, you can be the change you wish to see.”

Driving impact through partnerships

As a South African-founded company, with a global footprint in over 40 markets including the United States of America and the United Kingdom, Discovery is proud to stand alongside global partners, including the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), in support of the call to action for the future of volunteering, reinforcing our core value to enhance and protect peoples’ lives through our shared value model. This act of service is a powerful force for good.

Speaking at the pre-launch event, Discovery’s Head of Corporate Social Investment, Andronica Mabuya said, “at Discovery, we believe that volunteerism is more than an act of service, it’s a powerful force for good in strengthening communities and addressing systemic challenges.”

Discovery supports the 2030 SDG agenda for sustainable development

Guided by our Shared Value model, Discovery ensures that doing good and doing well go hand in hand. Our approach is anchored on four sustainability differentiators:

• Making people healthier
• Enhancing and protecting lives
• Strengthening social systems
• Restoring the environment

“Volunteerism is a critical lever for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, among them good health and wellbeing, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities. Our CSI strategy incorporates our Employee Volunteer Programme as a platform to deliver meaningful service, skills sharing and advance the priorities of the National Development Plan, making a tangible impact in the South African context,” said Mabuya.

In 2025 alone, more than 2,000 employees volunteered 12,053 hours, equating to R2 million in value, with activities ranging from financial literacy masterclasses for entrepreneurs in Alexandra to strategic leadership training for NPO partners.

One standout project is Mentorship with Purpose, which taps into the specialist knowledge of Discovery executives to build leadership capacity, support small businesses, and empower civil society. Additionally, environmental rehabilitation efforts, such as restoring biodiversity and vital ecological functions along the Jukskei River in Alexandra, engaged 85 Discovery volunteers in making a tangible impact.

The event also featured the launch of the State of the World's Volunteerism Report 2026, setting the tone for this initiative to recognise, amplify, and advance the contributions of global volunteers to sustainable development.

“We will continue to champion volunteerism as a strategic enabler of sustainable development. We invite our key stakeholders to join in reinforcing the message that ‘Every contribution matters’,” concludes Mabuya.

Notes to Editors:

Discovery supports systemic change that benefits society in line with its core purpose and guided by four sustainability differentiators: Make people healthier; Enhance and protect lives; Strengthen social systems and Restore the environment. The organisation’s CSI pillars (Discovery Fund and Discovery Foundation) scales its collaborative impact through various initiatives such as crowdsourced philanthropy, employee volunteering and public–private partnerships to address societal challenges.

Since its inception in 2005, the Discovery Fund has reached over 350,000 direct beneficiaries and 57 million indirect beneficiaries. The Fund has advanced human capabilities, reduced infant and maternal mortality, protected vulnerable groups, and supported state health resources. Each year, it partners with an average of 18 organisations, including four dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.

The second strategic pillar of Discovery’s CSI is the Discovery Foundation, established in 2006 as an independent trust with a long-term vision to transform South Africa’s healthcare landscape. Its focus includes training specialists for rural areas, developing academic medicine and research centres, and increasing the number of sub-specialists to meet national healthcare needs.

To date, the Foundation has funded up to 10% of South Africa’s training posts, awarded 584 grants, and invested over R331 million. It has achieved 97% of its BEE target in both rand value and beneficiary count. More than 75% of annual grants go to black recipients, and 56% of all recipients are women, underscoring a strong commitment to transformation and diversity.

Read more about Discovery’s sustainability strategy and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals in the latest Sustainability Report.

Insights Underpinning the Call

The accompanying Insights Paper, authored by Dr. Chris Millora, highlights the themes that informed the final recommendations. Key insights include the essential role of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the need for more inclusive and equitable volunteering systems, and the widespread underinvestment in volunteering initiatives. It also underscores the pressing need for stronger protection and safeguarding measures.

Join the Movement

IAVE encourages individuals and organizations to:

• Share the Call to Action with their networks
• Register to participate in the movement – www.iave.org/calltoaction
• Take steps during the International Volunteer Year 2026 to advance at least one commitment
• Read the Call to Action and Insights Paper to understand the evidence behind the recommendations – www.iave.org/calltoaction