International Volunteer Day - 5 December 2012
Bonn: International Volunteer Day - 5 December 2012
Volunteerism plays a significant role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It plays a healing role by rebuilding trust in a post-conflict society. And its values -of solidarity and engagement - inspire us to live sustainably, so that our human actions do not jeopardise the needs, or the existence, of future generations.
Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator for the United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
How is your state celebrating?
NSW Volunteer of the year awards at the NSW Leagues Club followed by International Volunteer Day activities in the day at the North Ryde Community Aide Centre. Click for details
VIC Forum Parks Have It: Young People, Environment and Volunteering, The forum will explore young peoples engagement with the natural environment, with a focus on volunteering. Details
Queensland will be holding an event with Somerset Regional Council to announce the findings of research conducted in the area around challenges, issues and experiences for volunteers and community groups. Details
SA&NT is proud to celebrate 30 years of service to the volunteer sector in conjunction with the day hosting the 11th State Volunteer Congress - HEAD, HEART & SOUL. Details
WA will celebrate by holding a garden event at Government House with speakers including Volunteer of the Year, Graham Mabury OAM, and the minister for Seniors and Volunteering, the Hon Robyn McSweeney MLC. Details
TAS will be hosting a launch event for the State of Volunteering Tasmania 2012 report. Details
ACT will host a garden party launched by the Creative Director of the Centenary of Canberra. Details
International Volunteer Day (IVD), on December 5th, was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers, and volunteer orgnanizations, to raise awareness of, and gain recognition for, the contribution they make to their communities.
The act of volunteering is found in all cultures, languages, and religions. Every year, hundreds of millions of people volunteer their time and skills to help make the world a better place. When they volunteer, they help to improve the lives of others. And when they volunteer, they also gain a greater sense of belonging to their communities.
On December 5th, people around the world will celebrate IVD with rallies, parades, volunteer fairs, group clean ups, blood donations, conferences, exhibitions, fundraising, workshops and volunteer recognition events.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has been supporting IVD since its inception. UNV believes that IVD is an ideal opportunity to recognize the significant impact that volunteerism makes worldwide. IVD enables grassroot voluntary movements to connect with local communities, United Nations(UN) efforts and government authorities. It is a chance to raise awareness of the contribution volunteers give to the wellbeing of their community.
Currently, there are approximately 7,300 national and international UN Volunteers contributing to UN work in sustainable development and peace work in over 130 countries.
This year, UNV launched an online campaign - Volunteer Action Counts - as a global volunteer action platform through which to count volunteer activities worldwide. From the website,http://www.volunteeractioncounts.org, volunteers and volunteer organizations celebrating IVD around around the world can upload their stories, pictures and videos, and interact with others online about volunteering. In addition, volunteers can use Twitter to share their stories and experiences by using the hashtag #actioncounts.
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