Ljubljana - Slovenian volunteers clock in over 7.3 million hours of work annually, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik noted in his address to a two-day virtual congress of Slovenian volunteers, which started on Thursday, focusing on the role of volunteers and solidarity in addressing social and environmental challenges.

The volunteer hours have somewhat dropped in the past two years as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic after some activities were suspended while new forms of voluntary work have come to the forefront, he said, praising the response of volunteers during the epidemic as exceptional.

Aware of its role in society, the Ministry of Public Administration supports voluntary work while it sees solidarity as a major challenge, the minister said.

This is the reason the strategy of development of NGOs sets down a goal of well-organised and sustainable voluntary work which contributes to social prosperity, he said.

Koritnik believes mechanisms should thus be put in place to strengthen organised voluntary work and make it more visible at local and national levels.

Mentorship and coordination of volunteers should also be put in focus, and competences volunteers acquire through voluntary work should be recognised.

The 13th congress of Slovenian volunteers, organised by Slovenian Philanthropy, focuses on the role of volunteers and solidarity in addressing social and environmental challenges.

Slovenian Philanthropy executive director Tereza Novak said that "solidarity is necessary if as a society, we want to live better and progress." She urged more respect for volunteers, arguing that mutual respect and solidarity were not valued enough.