‘Mahi aroha' is work performed out of love, sympathy or caring and through a sense of duty. What underpins the Māori concept of mahi aroha and makes it unique is tohu aroha – the spiritual, emotional and cultural dimension that provides the framework through which mahi aroha is undertaken. 

 Pacific people engage in activities conceptually similar to volunteering. Traditional cultural activities are closely associated with concepts of duty of care, to serve, cultural obligation or expectation, a form of love and reciprocity relating to kinship and protocol.   

Samoan volunteering could be describes as - Gaualofa meaning “to serve with love”.  

Cook Islands it could be equivalent to Tauturu meaning “to serve and support”. 

 Niuean language Fanau Lagomatai means “Born to Serve”  

Tongan - Nima Homo defines volunteering as “Work for love”

The concept of service and volunteering is part of the African philosophy of ubuntu (Isizulu), letsema (Setswana) and kujitolea (Kiswalihi).

Older Chinese see volunteering as a courtesy and an obligation to the community. They prefer the term “giving a helping hand” because volunteering is associated with social work. 

In Dutch a volunteer is called vrijwilliger which means ‘one of the free will'. “vrijwillige inzet” which translates to English as volunteering contribution/input or just volunteering

Filipinos interpret the word volunteer to mean community spirit or community involvement.

Volunteering is an informal activity built on trust and friendship.

In Germany, Ehrenamtlich is the term most often used to refer to volunteers. The word means ‘honorary position' and carries connotations of duty and formally held offices. Many volunteers prefer to describe their work, rather than identify themselves as Ehrenamtliche.

Ismaili Muslims experience volunteering as a religious requirement, therefore it is part of daily life. As a community every Ismaili Muslim is involved in volunteering.

In Japan the concept of volunteering is not well known. Volunteer activities must be congruent with the needs of the group. Motivation to volunteer is often connected to a sense of obligation: people who've received help feel obliged to repay it with their labour and time.

Voluntario was introduced to Latin America by the Spanish. It often refers to foreign volunteers. Volunteering is seen as something privileged people do.

Ecuadorians today prefer companero, meaning someone to break bread with .

The Sikh community translates volunteering to mean ‘service' – their third religious commandment. In India, Sikhs engage in community volunteer work as part of daily life.