(English) At the core of this Guidance Note are issues concerning the contribution of citizens to development, safety and social growth, and the desirability of recognising, valuing and promoting voluntary action by citizens in every country. Volunteering is a nursery for good citizenship. It helps build strong and cohesive communities. It teaches people to be responsible citizens and schools them in the process of democratic involvement. It promotes trust and reciprocity, which are essential to stable societies. The Human Development Report 2002: Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World refers to volunteerism as holding enormous scope for broadening participation in governance and promoting more equitable outcomes for people.