RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) statistics of volunteer work in the Kingdom revealed that the percentage of Saudi volunteers reached 16.8%, with the male volunteers larger in number GaStat disclosed the growing percentage in volunteer work in the Kingdom on the "International Volunteer Day", which falls on Dec. 5 each year as approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The authority said the total volunteers (Saudis and non-Saudis) reached 14.7% of the total population of the Kingdom during the last 12 months, according to the results of the Volunteer Work Survey 2018. The percentage of Saudi volunteers reached 16.8%, with male volunteers representing 22.6% of the total Saudi male population compared to 10.8% of the total Saudi females. GaStat results showed that the average number of volunteer hours for the total volunteers (Saudis and non-Saudis) reached (52.2) hours during the 12 months prior to the survey, while the average number of volunteer hours for the total Saudi volunteers was (52.6) hours. Meanwhile, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) President Dr. Mohammed Al-Qasem has expressed his pride at having 20,000 volunteers working with the authority and contributing and investing their times to different initiatives. SRCA celebrated, in all its branches in the regions of the Kingdom, "The International Volunteer Day" during which different human and awareness initiatives are launched along with honoring outstanding volunteers in the authority. Dr. Al-Qasem also pointed out different initiatives launched by the authority like "Friday is Volunteer Day " and the volunteers' efforts to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers during Haj and Umrah seasons. Dr. Al-Qasem also said that on a personal note he his witnessing a reinvigorated effort to volunteerism in the authority. He referred to the increase in the numbers of volunteers and activities in this sector in the authority, as voluntary participations and events reached 1,500 in 2019 with more than 250,000 voluntary hours.
