FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Lebanon
Address
Justinian Bldg, Bloc B, Hamra, 9th floorCountry
City
BeirutMobile Phone
+96170115999Telephone
+96170115999E-Mail (2)
info@thevolunteercircle.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2019Contact Person1
Malak YacoutJob Title 1
Executive DirectorContact Person 2
Lara RammalJob Title 2
Community Lead & PartnershipsOrganisation Type
OtherFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Youth and educationGeneral Information
The Volunteer Circle (TVC) is a social enterprise that bridges the gap between volunteerism and employability by providing structured, skill-based volunteer opportunities. With a core team of [X] staff and a network of over 10,000 volunteers, we operate at scale to match talent with impact-driven organizations. Our annual budget varies, combining self-generated revenue from membership models, white-label services, and corporate partnerships, alongside strategic grants.
TVC facilitates volunteer placements, job referrals, and career-building opportunities through initiatives like the Career Circle, which links skilled volunteers to employment. We also offer training programs in collaboration with Maharat, MasterClass, and Global Mentorship Initiative, providing free upskilling.
Key partners include NGOs, universities (LIU, LU, NDU, Balamand), vocational training centers, and corporates like UN Global Compact Network Lebanon. We engage in seminars, workshops, and impact measurement projects, reinforcing our role as a talent pipeline for the MENA region.
Mission and Objectives
The Volunteer Circle was born as the result of experiencing first-hand how inaccessible volunteering is. Traveling abroad for work or volunteering proved easier than retaining talent locally. Youth unemployment in Lebanon is 47.8% (three times the global average), with 64.7% labor underutilization (ILO, January 2022). Job market relevance and security are increasingly unattainable, driving youth (18-30) out of the country and lowering labor participation rates beyond Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Volunteer-related challenges impede service delivery & negatively affect access to the job market. Mismatches, underutilization, and skill gaps cause unemployment/underemployment. 41% of HR and Talent Acquisitions teams consider volunteer experience to be as important as professional experience (Global LinkedIn Talent Report). 93% of Talent Acquisition Teams in the MENA Region consider life skills acquired an increasing priority in their choice of volunteer talents.
At The Volunteer Circle, we unlock the access to skilled volunteers on-demand through a marketplace and specialize in facilitating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through skilled volunteering. Through a smart platform, we match organizations and volunteers based on common criteria. Organizations subscribe to The Volunteer Circle to attract the right volunteers at the right time, and volunteers unlock rewards, jobs, internships and professional opportunities after completing volunteer opportunities. For every volunteer matched to a job, The Volunteer Circle gets paid for Talent Matching.
Main Projects / Activities
1. Career Circle – A structured talent pipeline that connects skilled volunteers to full-time employment, ensuring job placements for youth from underprivileged backgrounds, career shifters, refugees, individuals with disabilities, and those without access to traditional education.
2. Volunteer Management Memberships – Subscription-based support for NGOs and institutions, streamlining volunteer engagement, impact measurement, and retention strategies, ensuring more inclusive access for marginalized communities.
3. White-Label Volunteer Platforms – Custom-built platforms for governments, corporates, and institutions to manage their volunteer programs efficiently, with a strong focus on removing barriers for vulnerable individuals.
4. Mayors of Impact – A community-led initiative empowering youth in Tripoli, Akkar, Bekaa, and Saida, where career opportunities are scarce, to take ownership of local volunteering efforts and drive social impact.
5. Volunteer Upskilling Programs – In collaboration with Maharat, MasterClass, and Global Mentorship Initiative, we provide free training and online courses to volunteers, particularly those who are unemployed, lack formal education, or live in conflict-affected areas.
6. Impact Measurement & Research – Data-driven insights on volunteerism’s role in economic development. Collaborations include universities, vocational training centers, and research bodies.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
One of the biggest challenges faced by civil society organizations is human capital—how to find the right talent, engage volunteers effectively, and sustain impact with limited resources. Many organizations struggle with last-minute staffing needs, skills mismatches, and volunteer retention.
The Volunteer Circle directly addresses these gaps through our on-demand skilled volunteer model, eliminating barriers to participation and wasted potential from fragmentation. We facilitate the right volunteer, at the right time, in the right place. Joining the ALF Network means we can:
- Support ALF Members with Pre-Vetted, Skilled Volunteers, reducing recruitment time and operational delays, across all sectors and districts.
- Offer Data-Driven Insights & Monetization Strategies for Nonprofits
- Create a Case Study with ALF Members to quantify the role of volunteerism in economic, cultural, and social development, strengthening the policy recommendations ALF presents at the Euro-Med level.
- Share Knowledge & Expand Regionally. We document and share best practices on building volunteer ecosystems that sustain impact beyond short-term initiatives. We can train ALF members on structuring volunteer engagement strategies that increase retention, satisfaction, and long-term sustainability.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
The ALF Network is a powerful force for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, but for dialogue to translate into impact, organizations need the right people, the right processes, and the right support systems.
We want to join the ALF Network because:
- We fill a critical gap. Civil society organizations spend years building impactful initiatives, but lack the tools to mobilize volunteers efficiently at scale. TVC changes that.
- We share ALF’s vision. Our work in bridging social, economic, and cultural divides through volunteerism is fully aligned with ALF’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation.
- We bring innovation to the network. We offer a new way of maximizing volunteer potential, proving that volunteerism, when structured strategically, can be a powerful economic and social enabler.
- We believe in scaling impact together. Through ALF, we see an opportunity to co-create solutions with like-minded organizations, share our research, and drive collective action that responds to dire needs across the Euro-Mediterranean.
Additional Information
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