From Small Acts to Big Hearts: How to Introduce Volunteering to Primary School Students

Can a child change the world for the better? The answer to this question was sought on October 29 during a guest lecture on the topic “Organization of Volunteer Work with Primary School Children: Theoretical and Practical Aspects.”

The space for professional discussion was moderated by Natalka Dudnyk, PhD in Pedagogy and Associate Professor of the Pedagogy Department. The main insights were shared by the invited speaker, Zhanna Stelmashuk, PhD in Pedagogy and Associate Professor of the Department of Theory and Methodology of Education at Rivne State Humanities University.

During the meeting, participants analyzed the true anatomy of helping, figuring out how to turn a good intention into collective action. The lecturer clearly distinguished the concepts of charity, philanthropy, and volunteering, emphasizing that true volunteer activity is based on three key principles: voluntary participation, an unpaid basis, and social benefit.

To implement these ideas systematically, the expert proposed an effective seven-step algorithm for creating a school volunteer mini-project. This path begins with recognizing a specific need and forming a team, proceeds through an active action stage, and always concludes with collective reflection.

The most important message delivered at the lecture was that even today, a child is capable of creating noticeable changes through entirely manageable deeds: crafting something by hand, feeding birds in winter, supporting a peer, teaching others something, or organizing a useful initiative in the classroom.

Summarizing the meeting, it is safe to say: children’s volunteering is not about complex tasks. It is a unique space for cultivating humanity, where students learn to work together, care about their surroundings, and feel their own capacity to do good deeds right now.

Department of Pedagogy FPPOM