The Association for the Development of Civil Society SMART, in cooperation with the Rijeka Volunteer Centre, is organising the traditional awards. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Volunteer of the Year award. This highlights the significance of the event in the local community. At the same time, 2026 has been declared the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Attention is drawn to the importance of volunteering in achieving the global sustainable development goals.
The awards are presented in three categories. These are Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Coordinator 2026, and School Volunteer Club 2026. The competition aims to recognise individuals, organisations, and educational institutions. They have contributed to strengthening the civil sector and the community through their work. The competition is open from 14 to 16 October 2026. Nominations can be submitted by local and regional self-government units. This includes the cities and municipalities of Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
Candidates must have carried out activities in cooperation with volunteers in 2026. This is a condition in line with the provisions of the Volunteer Act. The rule ensures that real contributions are rewarded. The actions took place in the previous year. Detailed information on the competition conditions is available on the websites. These are the websites of the City of Rijeka, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the Rijeka Volunteer Centre. The information is publicly available to all interested parties.
