Dar es Salaam 7 December 2012: Tanzania will on 8 December 2012 celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) through a forum on 'Volunteerism and Youth Engagement' that will be held at Karimjee Hall.The forums is organised by the UN together with Government, Volunteer Involving Organisations, Academia and Youth Groups.
The forum aims to engage youths on volunteerism and encourage them to play their part on volunteerism. Participants includes youths from Universities and out of schools. This year's theme for the Day is :Volunteer Action Counts
IVD is celebrated each year on 5th December. The Day 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 organizations 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 celebrated 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 grassroots 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 well-being 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. Below, is the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moons statement to mark the day;
“As we celebrate the impact of volunteers on our world, let us remember the many places they are needed: in war zones and classrooms, in hospitals and homes – wherever struggling people seek a helping hand.
Let us also remember that volunteering can embrace all people, from the activist who works full-time for a cause to the occasional citizen who reaches out when he or she can. Each sets an example of the spirit of compassion we need. Each makes a valuable contribution to reaching our common goals.
The timeless act of volunteering in the service of others has taken on new dimensions in today’s digital age. Anyone with an Internet connection or a mobile phone can make a difference.
I applaud all people who volunteer each year for the benefit of their communities. I am especially grateful to the 7,700 United Nations Volunteers who support efforts to prevent conflicts, help societies recover from fighting, promote sustainable development, assist in crisis situations and carry out numerous other projects for the greater good. Their work has advanced the Millennium Development Goals, and I am confident they will also contribute to the progress on the post-2015 development agenda.
Founded on the values of solidarity and mutual trust, volunteerism transcends all cultural, linguistic and geographic boundaries. By giving their time and skills without expectation of material reward, volunteers themselves are uplifted by a singular sense of purpose.
On this Day, let us renew our determination to offer strength and inspiration to others through volunteerism.”
Note to editors:
About UNV: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism. UNV is inspired by the conviction that volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development. With partners, UNV advocates for volunteerism, integrates volunteerism into development planning and mobilizes volunteers. The enormous potential of volunteerism is an inspiration to UNV and to volunteers around the world.
Every year, about 7,300 qualified and experienced women and men of around 160 nationalities serve as UN Volunteers in some 130 countries. They are professionals who play key roles contributing to peace and making an impact on development results. Annually, there are more than 16,000 online volunteering assignments offered by development organizations through the UNV Online Volunteering service.
Visit: www.unv.org for more information.
Contact info:
Ms. Stella Karegyesa, UNV Programme Officer: Tel: +255784338711. Email:stella.karegyesa@undp.org
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