On the occasion of World Day of Social Justice on February 20, the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal offers a reflection on today’s upheavals, the inequalities people experience in daily life, and volunteering as a concrete lever for solidarity and social transformation.

We can all feel it. The world is being shaken by overlapping upheavals: economic crises, political tensions, population displacement, climate disasters, the rise of misinformation, and public systems stretched to their limits. Even here in Montreal, these global realities take on a very tangible form. They show up in soaring rents, growing lines for food support, barriers to accessing care, increased pressure on caregivers, more complex migration pathways, and a sense of insecurity that is not only physical, but also social.

In this context, it is easy to feel powerless, to think that the problems are too big, too structural, too far beyond our reach. And yet, there is a response that is both simple and deeply transformative: getting involved.

When it is well supported, volunteering is not just a “nice” gesture or an extra on the margins. It is social justice in action. A way to reduce gaps, protect people, strengthen communities, and also protect ourselves.

Inequality is not abstract, it is lived

Talking about inequality is not about theory, it is about real lives. These realities exist in our neighbourhoods, our apartment buildings, our schools, our workplaces, and they intensify when society is under stress.

It is the older adult who can no longer afford adequate food and lives with isolation, sometimes in silence. It is the newcomer navigating an unfamiliar system without a network, with a diploma that will be recognized “later.” It is the single parent choosing between transportation costs and fresh fruit. It is the person living with a disability facing barriers that are invisible to others, but constant to them. It is the young person trying to find their place and learning to distrust institutions because they have been let down too many times.

Naming these realities is already a way of refusing to normalize them. It is recognizing that inequality is not inevitable, but the result of choices, structures, and power dynamics. And that it is addressed through public policy, of course, but also through a daily culture of solidarity

Volunteering does not replace the state, it strengthens society

Let’s be clear: volunteering must never be used as an excuse to weaken public services. Social justice requires strong policies, accessible institutions, and sufficient resources. It also requires that rights are protected, discrimination is confronted, and living conditions are dignified.

But it would be just as wrong to believe that because volunteering cannot solve everything, it does not matter. Volunteering is a complementary response, a human counterweight, a relational safety net. It acts where systems are too heavy, too slow, or too saturated. It reaches people who do not dare to ask for help. It offers presence, listening, and support. It helps preserve dignity, which sits at the heart of social justice.

When it is structured, well supported, and respectful, volunteering becomes a collective lever. It strengthens organizations, builds social ties, and increases our capacity to get through difficult times together.

A concrete action with real social impact

Volunteering has a particular strength: it transforms reality on two levels.

First, it responds to immediate needs. Meals delivered, reception and welcoming, administrative support, accompaniment, group activities, listening, family support, academic support, help with practical steps. Every action matters because it arrives at the right time, often when someone needs it most.

Second, it strengthens the capacity of organizations and communities. When volunteers support an organization, they increase its ability to act: to serve better, reach people more effectively, organize more efficiently, and innovate. This creates lasting effects. A community that helps one another is more resilient, more supportive, and better able to withstand shocks.

This dual action, meeting urgent needs while strengthening the long term, sits at the core of volunteering’s social impact.

Volunteering as a protective factor for mental health and social cohesion

There is another impact, sometimes less discussed, but very real: getting involved can protect us, too. In a time marked by collective anxiety, isolation, loss of meaning, and polarization, volunteering can be a protective factor.

It restores a sense of agency, shifting us from “I’m going through this” to “I can contribute.” It nurtures a sense of usefulness: we become part of the solution. It creates relationships, sometimes with people we would never otherwise have met. It reduces isolation for both the person receiving support and the person who gets involved. It restores meaning, reconnecting us with what truly matters.

It is not a miracle cure. But it is often a gesture that gives society some breathing room. And a society that can breathe is better able to care for those who are most vulnerable.

Volunteering that advances social justice is something we build together

Volunteering is not automatically synonymous with social justice. For it to be so, it must be designed with intention.

High-impact volunteering is volunteering that respects people and their dignity; that does not create dependency but strengthens autonomy; that is accessible (not reserved for those who “have lots of time”); that takes equity, diversity, and inclusion realities into account; that is supported and supervised to protect everyone (volunteers and organizations alike); and that recognizes boundaries, including limits related to reserved acts in certain professions.

Yes, get involved, but in the right way. So that support is fair, useful, and sustainable, and so that the experience is positive, safe, and meaningful.

Choosing involvement as a stance, not a performance

• Engagement is sometimes associated with performance: doing a lot, burning out, being everywhere. But a more just society is not built on overwork.

  Social involvement can be simple, realistic, and adapted to our lives. One hour a week, a one-time mandate, a few months of commitment, a support role, skills-based volunteering, or a governance position. There are a thousand ways to help, and they all have value when they respond to real needs.

  What matters most is the stance: choosing to be someone who participates, who sees their community, connects with it, and contributes to making it more just.

In a world that is becoming more fragile, solidarity is a response

In the face of global upheavals, we can withdraw or we can connect. Volunteering is a way to connect. It is a concrete response to inequality, a human counterbalance to the harshness of systems, a protective factor for our communities, and an accessible act of social justice.

At the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal, we believe solidarity is not a slogan. It is a practice. And it begins with a very simple question: what does the community need, and what role can I play, at my scale, to respond?

If you want to get involved, or if your organization is looking for volunteers, the VBM is here to make the connections, support the process, and ensure that engagement is beneficial, respectful, and meaningful.