Service clubs and social development: when organized citizenship transforms realities in PG

There are cities that grow by the size of their economy. Others, by the strength of their infrastructure. But there are cities that stand out for something even more valuable: the ability to mobilize people for the common good. Ponta Grossa is one of those cities.

Throughout its trajectory, initially marked by the route of the tropeiros and subsequently driven by industrialization, logistics and innovation, the municipality also built a solid tradition of community participation. This story was not written only by public power or private initiative. It was also built by citizens who decided to dedicate some of their time, knowledge and resources to improving the lives of others.

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In this context, service clubs and civil society organisations play a key role. Entities such as Rotary, Lions, Freemasonry, charities, religious organizations, and various community institutions represent an important network of social development support, promoting actions that expand opportunities, strengthen community ties, and help address challenges that no sector can solve alone.

The development of a truly human city depends on the capacity for cooperation between different actors. Governments create public policies, companies generate jobs and wealth, but it is civil society organizations that often establish the closest connection to the daily needs of the population. They identify emerging demands, mobilize volunteers, promote solidarity campaigns and stimulate citizen participation.

Volunteering, by the way, is one of the greatest social assets of any community. Recent data from the survey Volunteering in Brazil 2026, conducted by Datafolha, show that 60% of Brazilians have already participated in some voluntary activity throughout their lives, while about 35% currently exercise some kind of voluntary action. The study estimates the existence of approximately 60 million active volunteers in the country, showing the consistent growth of the culture of solidarity in recent decades.

These figures show that social transformation does not depend exclusively on large financial investments. It is often born of the engagement of ordinary people who decide to act in the face of an identified need in their community.

Rotary is an expressive example of this citizen mobilization. Founded in 1905, it has become one of the largest service organizations in the world, bringing together more than 1.2 million members distributed in more than 45,000 clubs. Its work is based on areas considered strategic for human development, such as education, health, promotion of peace, sanitation, environmental protection, local economic development and strengthening of communities.

Perhaps the best-known example of its global impact is decisive participation in the polio eradication program. Since the late 1970s, Rotary has collaborated with governments, international agencies and health institutions to combat the disease. The result is historic: polio remains endemic in only two countries, after decades of worldwide mobilization.

However, the true power of service clubs lies not only in the great global achievements. It manifests itself, above all, in the small local transformations that take place daily. A wheelchair delivered to those in need, an educational project that broadens perspectives for children and adolescents, a fundraising campaign for vulnerable families or an environmental action that raises awareness for new generations are concrete examples of how volunteering generates real impact.

In Ponta Grossa, this contribution has its own characteristics. The city has always been marked by a strong associativist spirit. Various social entities act in a complementary way to public policies, supporting projects in the areas of education, social assistance, culture, health and inclusion. Many of them develop permanent partnerships with schools, universities, host institutions, hospitals and community groups.

In addition to the direct results obtained by their projects, these organizations produce an often invisible but profoundly transformative effect: they strengthen the social capital of the community. Social capital is the trust built between people, the willingness to cooperate, and the sense of belonging that connects individuals around common goals. Communities with high social capital tend to be more resilient, innovative and able to cope with crises.

This reality becomes even more relevant in a period of accelerated economic and technological transformations. While Ponta Grossa consolidates its position as a logistics, industrial and innovation hub, there is also a growing need to ensure that development reaches all layers of the population. Economic progress only becomes human development when it generates inclusion, opportunities and quality of life.

It is precisely at this point that the service clubs make their greatest contribution. They act as bridges between different sectors of society, promoting dialogue, cooperation and a sense of collective responsibility. They are spaces where business leaders, liberal professionals, educators, public servants and citizens find a common cause: to serve.

The future of cities will not be built only by advanced technologies or major infrastructure works. It will be built above all on the ability of people to work together towards shared goals. An innovative city must also be a city of solidarity. An economically strong city must also be humane, welcoming and committed to the development of all.

Ponta Grossa has this vocation. Its history demonstrates that the most lasting progress is born when the force of labor meets the force of citizenship. It is in this union between development and solidarity that service clubs continue to fulfill their mission: to transform good intentions into concrete actions and to help build a more just, participatory and humane society for present and future generations.