IDEA INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001
11 YE s, BUT WHAr w1 LL WED01·
A listing of activities undertaken by volunteers around the world in marking International Volunteer Day over the ten years 1988-1997, which may provide ideas for IYV2001 Introduction
There is usuallyno shortageof ideaswhen volunteerssit down to discuss the needs they mighthelp meet, or the eventthey mightorganise. At any rate,that's been the experiencesince the UNGeneral Assembly in 1985designated December5 as InternationalVolunteer Day ((VD), a day for markingthe achievementsof volunteerseverywhere. However,it may present rather moreof a challengeto put togethera programmeof eventsfor the International Year of Volunteersin 2001.
Wetherefore felt that it could be usefulto commit to paper a list of the activities over the last decadein more than a hundred countriesby wayof markingIVD. The activitieshave been groupedthematically, so that those whichread ily lend themselves,say, to an environmentalemphasis in 200I are in one section:the same goes for those whichare particularlyrelevant to the four aims of IYV2001, enhanced recognition, facilitation, networking and promotionof volunteerservice.
It is hoped that this comprehensivelisting will help inspireplanning by governments,state bodies,international and nationalnon-governmental organisations, community groups and individualsto make IYV2001 the successit de servesto be. It hardlyneeds addingthat the listing is not prescriptive:there is no suggestionthat these particular activitiesare approvedor should be adhered to. On the contrary,the opportunityand the scopeof IYV200 l are such that imaginationshould be givenfull rein! It willbe disappointingif the Yeardoes not producea similar listingof freshlyi_nspired activities! Good luck!
INDEX
Part 1:Helping People
Humanitarianand SolidarityActions page l Civicand DevelopmentalActions page l EnvironmentalActivities page l EducationalActions page 2 RaisingFunds, Securing Sponsorship page2
Part2: SupportingVolunteerism
Recognition page 2 Facilitation-Recruitment page 2 Facilitation-Government Support page 3 Networkingand ExchangingExperience page3 Promotion page 3 Information page4 EngagingTomorrow's Volunteers - Childrenand Youth page4
Part 3: JustCelebrating!
Cultureand Recreation page4 • PARTl: Helping People
Humanitarianand Solidarity Actions
• Providinghealth checksand medicalservices free for the needyon December5 • Visitingthe sick in hospitals • Helpingdoctors administer medicinesand treatments • Donatingblood • Freevaccination campaigns • Helpingthose who need physicalrehabilitation • Providinghorse rides for disabledchildren • Visitingchildren in orphanages • Providingfree legaladvice • Providingfriendship services such as support and counselling • Collectingand distributingused clothes,shoes, toys or food to poor families • Providinga meal to the poor Helpingout singlemothers and pensioners • EstabLishingand participatingin a hot-line for those in distress • Tailorsand seamstressessewing clothes for the needy • Helpinga farmingcommunity harvest, plant, tend to animals,etc • Visitinga juveniledetention centre • Providingthe elderlyin need with letter-writingservices, companionship, health checksand free hair-cuts
Civicand DevelopmentalActions
• Renovatinginstitutions for the disabled,orphans, pensioners • Renovatingcivic and communitycentres, schools, hospitals, libraries • Reconstructingold or damagedhousing • Buildinga communityroom in a poor settlement • Buildingroads or paths with help from volunteerexperts and donated materials • Addinga classroomto a school • Makinga court or playgroundfor city children • Cleaningschools, community centres, hospitals • Constructingwooden benches at schoolbus-stops. • Buildingor repairing facilitiesfor the use of all, such as a publicbath, solid wastedisposal, drains, pipelines • Restoringor improvingwater sources • Conductinga workcamp for a weekor two • Sprucingup homes for the elderlyand providingthem meanwhilewith a day of specialcare and entertainment • Tidyingup the localzoo for children to enjoy • Cleaningup a historicalsite • Helpingbuild or renovatechurches and templesof worship.
EnvironmentalActivities
• Participatingin "Cleanand Green"initiatives • Cleaningup beaches,rivers, parks, nature reserves • Cleaningpublic streets and pruning the trees • Plantinga garden,collecting and potting seedlings,weeding • Tree-plantingand reafforestationdrives • Campaigningfor the environment • Gettingchildren involved and informedabout nature and the environment 0 • Newspaperssponsoring volunteer events through advertising them for free • Newspaperspublishing articles or supplementsfeaturing volunteer service • Producinga trainer videoon volunteering • Producinga song or jingle to promotevolunteer work • Havinga prominentdesigner design a uniform for volunteers • Prominentfigures volunteering publicly • Prominentfigures broadcasting public service announcements on volunteering • Holdingpress conferences • Includingfeatures about volunteerismin journals and newslettersof bodies such as SportsAuthorities, the Scoutsand Guides,Youth Hostel Association, and in publicationsby Stateministries • Takingjournalists "on tour"to developmentprojects • Placingposters and banners in streets,schools and universities,airports, etc • Raisinga road-sidenotice board on IVD/volunteer work • UNand GovernmentInformation Centres facilitating press releaseson the daysleading up to fVD • Organisinga conteston "the best volunteerproject" • Organisinga conteston composinga volunteeranthem
Information
• Holdingexhibitions in libraries,cultural and communitycentres, universities, etc. on volunteerwork Holdingwell-publicised information sessions on volunteerservice • NGOshaving "opendays" or havingan "NGOweek" at the university • Organisinga photo exhibitdocumenting volunteer action
EngagingTomorrow's Volunteers: Children and Youth
• Runninga schools'essay contest on volunteerismor on the topic"What can I do to make my village,my neigh bourhooda better place?" • Childrenpainting their "visionfor a better world"and designingposters • Organisinga contestof stories from childrento promoteideas of volunteerism
PART3: JustCelebrating!
Cultureand Recreation
• Organisingsporting eventsand games( tug-o-war,badminton, etc). • Celebratinglocal folklore, music, dancing and cuisine • Organisingan exhibitof art done by volunteers. • Providingpopular theatre performances,musical entertainment, choir concert • Providinga literatureprogramme (reciting poetry, reading short storiesaccompanied by a slide presentation, etc) • f\lountingposter, crafts and art competitions • Streetparades and marches • "AWalk for Peace",maybe involving fund-raising by sponsorshipper kilometer • Organisinggames with children • Formingan "InternationalLink of Friendship"(a gestureof joiningpalm to palm with hands held high) • Smallchildren parading in a "V"formation and posing for a commemorativephoto againsta representativelocal backdrop • Organisinga filmshow • Releasingballoons • Participatingin a "marathonrun" • Celebratingwith a picnic • Holdingspecial religious 5ervices to honourcommunity-level volunteering and encouragemore. C, EducationalActions
• Transferringtechnical skills and providingvocational training through freelectures or workshops • Doctorsand other professionalexperts holding free training sessions • Offeringmaternity and infant child-careworkshops • Road-buildingled by a volunteerengineer • journalists teachingyoungsters writing skills • Volunteersteaching reading • Organisingawareness campaigns on e.g.the environmentor HIV/AIDS • Highschool students being enabled to visit volunteerprojects which match their areas of interest:e.g. those inter- ested in animals mixingvaccines and helpingfeed animals at a farm • Usinga zoo to teach childrento care for nature • Street-sideawareness campaigns through posters, informationstands, etc • Teachinghorticultural techniques. • MakingfVD a "no smoking","no alcohol"day Using[VD as "kick-off"for literacyand reading programmes • Debatingcompetitions on issuesrelated to volunteering • A historian or writer tracing the history of national volunteering
Raising funds, Securing Sponsorship
• Donatingclassroom materials and hospitalsupplies • Donatingmachinery or instruments • Raisingfunds to buy and donatewheel chairs or a Braillemachine • Raisingfunds to providespectacles for orphans or poor villagers • Awardinggrants for scholarshipsor researchto support youngsterswith no means or accessto higher education • Openingsavings accounts for orphans as deposits on future homes,so that the accountreaches the levelfor pur chase of a home by the time the orphan is 21 • Telecommunicationcompanies offering a discount packageon mobiletelephones and pagersto volunteersas part of a promotionby whichlarge corporations pay tribute to volunteers • Organisinga charity dinner or an auctionof donated itemsto raise funds • Havingthe privatesector financethe making of a film documentaryor reportageon IVDor on volunteerprojects • A women'sassociation donating vitamins,food, clothes to widowsand orphans • Pharmaceuticalcompanies or pharmaciesdonating basic medicines
PART2: SupportingVolunteerism Recognition
• Presentingprizes, awards, certificates for volunteerand solidarityactions • Holdinga "RecognitionCeremony" to award"volunteer service medals" • The Headof State presidingover IVDcelebrations • The FirstLady, or a high-rankingGovernment official, presenting an awardor certificateto deservingvoluntary serviceorganisations in the country • Celebratingwith a "VolunteerBall" to mark the achievementsof volunteers • Presentinga book or report on the history of volunteerwork in the country • NGOsand volunteersusing IVDto "re-dedicate"themselves • Announcingand recognisingthe "Volunteerof the Year",honouring the "NGOof the Year" • Makingand advertisinga list of all the serviceswhich wouldnot exist if it weren'tfor volunteers
Facilitationand Recruitment
• Establishinga nationalcentre or foundationto promote volunteering • Holdinga volunteersrecruitment rally, ideally supported by the media e • Setting up an informationphoneline on the range of nationalvolunteer activity and the opportunitiesto partici- pate • Inauguratinga serviceor training camp for volunteers • Holdingworkshops on volunteerservice, skills transfer,etc • Launchingof a nationaldirectory of volunteerorganisations • Conductinga "time-donation"campaign by whichpeople pledge hours of voluntaryservice to specificprojects • Tyingdecorative tags on prominentChristmas or other trees to publicisethe number of hours givento volunteer- ing by membersof the community
Facilitation - GovernmentSupport
• Announcinglegislation designed to facilitatevolunteering • Providingmessages of support from high-rankingofficials • Designatinga national focalpoint for co-operationbetween NGOs and Government • Signingframework agreements between state structures and volunteerassociations • Postalauthorities arranging to postmark letters with a specialcancellation marking the celebrationof volunteerism • Postalauthorities issuingcommemorative stamps to mark !VD • Governmentbringing together community leaders of differentreligious, ethnic or interestgroups to exchangeex perienceand ideas • High-rankingGovernment officials receiving a "courtesycall" from directorsand representativegroups of domestic and foreignvolunteer organisations • Ministriesdonating materials,or funds for purchasingmaterials, to be used in volunteerprojects and activities • Includingspecial volunteer-related articles in Ministrynewsletters • Government-supported"refresher courses" for volunteersin necessaryskills • A GovernmentMinister posting seasonal greetings cards to nationalvolunteers serving abroad,as a gestureof rec ognitioncovered by the media • Settingland aside whereeach tree plantedwill representa newvolunteer
Networkingand ExchangingExperience
• Holdinga conferenceor symposiumon volunteeringwith the presenceof NGOs,volunteers, Government repre sentatives,interested individuals, etc • Invitingvolunteers, NGO representatives, researchers, etc from neighbouringcountries to comeand share their ex periences. • Holdinga round-tablediscussion • Celebratinga "dinner by lamplight"(with light providedby oil lamps made from recycledmaterials, for example!) to exchangeor share volunteeringexperiences. • Organisinginformal community-wide presentations and lecturesby volunteerson their experiences • Discussionsand gatheringsat villagelevel. • Telephoneand video link-upsbetween volunteers in differentsites • Co-ordinatinga region-or continent-widecelebration of IVDthrough telephoneand video link-ups. • A"volunteer networking" breakfast at dawn
Promotion
• Broadcastinglive or taped interviewswith volunteerson radio or TV • Includingfeatures on volunteersin the TV Newson l\'D • Broadcastinga radio or TV programme:"A Day in the Lifeof a Volunteer" • Livebroadcasts on volunteer-relatedevents, courtesy of localradio and televisionstations • Screening/broadcasting clips/films/documentaries on volunteers. • Childreninterviewing volunteers on the radio • Broadcastinga panel discussionon the role of volunteeringin nationalsociety e ✓•/•~· .. \ I / ~ .d ~ 2 0 0 1 Guidelines for use of the logo 001
The United Nations GeneralAssembly designated the year 2001 as the InternationalYear of Volunteers. A logo or emblem for the Yearhas been preparedby the United Nations Volunteersprogramme in its capac ity as the focal point designated by the GeneralAssembly with responsibilityfor preparations,implementa tion and follow-upof the Year.
I. The logo design The core designcomprises three humanisedletters "V" to representvolunteers in action,within the laurelleaves of the UnitedNations logo. The designwas contributed on a volunteerbasis by an Argentiniangraphics designer, Sandra Rojas,resident in Germany.The designis accompaniedby the words"International Year of Volunteers200 l" renderedas maybe requiredin the six officiallanguages of the UnitedNations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Rus sian and Spanish.
2. TheYear The logois intendedto promoteawareness and activitiespertaining to the InternationalYear of Volunteers2001. [n brief,the Year'sobjectives are the enhancedrecognition, facilitation, networking and promotionof volunteerservice.
3. Nationalvariations of logo design A NationalCommittee or nationallyappointed Focal Point may chooseto make a nationalvariation of the logode sign,as outlinedbelow, in line with the GeneralAssembly's appeal to MemberStates "to highlight200 I as a special occasionbenefiting the peoplesof the worldin their quest for a better life for all, based on the voluntarycommitment of individualsand groups to make availabletheir time and share their resourcesand skillsin the interestof those less advantaged"(resolution A/RES/52/ 17 and A/52/L.22/Add. I of 20 November1997).
A nationalvariation of the logoshould maintain the core design,but mayadd, to top or bottom,the name of their country (or a city or localitywithin that country) and/or a sloganjudged appropriateto the objectivesof the Yearand suitablein the localor nationalcontext: the followingis a samplevariation: 4. Uses of the logo: information,fund-raising, commercial The logois intendedfor three kinds of promotionaluse: information,fund-raising and commercial,as ouLlinedbe low. a. Informationuses of the logo Informationuses of the logoare thosewhich are: • primarilyillustrative • not intended to raise funds and • not carried out by a commercialfor-profit entity.
Permissionto use the logofor national informationpurposes is givenby the NationalCommittee or FocalPoint in each country.Where no NationalCommittee or FocalPoint has been designated,please contact Team IYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme.
Permissionto use the logofor internationalinformational purposes is givenby TeamIYV 100 I c/o the UnitedNa tions Volunteersprogramme. When requesting permission, please provide:
• a short statementof identity(membership, objectives, etc.) • explanationof howand wherethe logowill be used.
Beforethe logois used for informationpurposes, a waiverof liabilityin accordancewith section 5 belowmust be signed by the entity that is requestingto use the logo.National Committees/Focal Points are requested to senda copy of the wah1ers to TeamIY\' 2001do the U11itedNatio11s \lolu11teers programme. b. Fund-raisinguses of the logo Fund-raisinguses of the logoare those intendedto raise resourcesto covercosts of voluntaryactivities for IYV 200I. Theymay only be undertakenby non-commercialnot-for-profit entities. Permissionto use the logofor national fund-raisingpurposes is givenby the NationalCommittee or FocalPoint in each country.Where no NationalCommittee or FocalPoint has been designated,please contact Team IYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme. Permissionto use the logofor internationalfund-raising purposes is givenby TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNa tions Volunteersprogramme. When requesting permission, please provide:
• a short statementof identity(membership, objectives, etc.) • explanationof howand wherethe logowill be used • explanationof the fund-raisingpurposes.
Beforethe logois used for fund-raisingpurposes, a waiverof liabilityin accordancewith section 5 belowmust be signedby the entity that is requestingto use the logo.National Co111111ittees!Focal Pointsare requested to send a copy of the 1vai11ersto Team!}'\' 2001 do the UnitedNations \10{1111teers programme. c. Commercialuses of logo Commercialuses of the logoare all those undertakenby or involvingcommercial for-profit entities, as wellas any use intendedto lead to commercialor personalprofit. Permissionto use the logocommercially at the national level(including the coredesign or nationalvariation as ex plainedin section3 above)can only be givenby the NationalCommittee or FocalPoint in each country.Where no NationalCommittee or FocalPoint has been designated,please contact Team IY\' 200 I do the United NationsVol unteersprogramme. Permissionto use the logofor internationalcommercial purposes is givenby TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteersprogramme. When requestingpermission, please explain: • the nature of your companyor enterprise • proposeduses of the logo • names of countries/territorieswhere the logowill be used • nature of products/servicesyou produce/sellin those areas • how your products relate to IYV • what profitsyou expect to make from use of the logo • a summary budget,givingyour expensesand any proposedroyalties or contributionsyou expectto make to local, nationalor internationalactivities for the Year.
Beforethe logo is used commercially,a contract must be signed with the NationalCommittee/Focal Point or Team IYV2001 c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme (as relevant).In particular,such contracts must conformto section5 below. NationalCommittees/Focal Points are requested to send a copyof signedcont mets to Team/YV 2001c/o the UnitedNa tions Volunteersprogra111111e.
5. Liability Allentities authorised to use the logo,whether for information,fund-raising or commercialpurposes, must acknowl edge that:
• a. the entity is responsiblefor ensuring that the activitiesare carried out in accordancewith the applicablelaw and for ensuring that appropriateinsurance is maintained to coverthe risks arising out of such activities; • b. the United Nationsdoes not assume any responsibilityfor the activitiesof such entity; and • c. the entity shall hold harmlessand defend the UnitedNations and its officialsagainst any action that maybe broughtagainst the UnitedNations or its officialsas a result of the use of the logo.
When the logo is used for commercialpurposes, the foregoinglanguage must be incorporatedinto the contract to be signed with the entity.
When the logo is used for informationand fund-raisingpurposes, the languagemust be incorporatedinto a waiver of liabilitythat is signed by the entity.The altached waiver of liabilitymay be used.
NationalCommittees/Focal Points and TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme shall ensure that contracts and waiverscontaining such languageare obtainedbefore the proposedactivities are carried out.
Additionally,contracts signed by TeamIYV 2001c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme should also contain the UnitedNations General Conditions for contracts.
6. Howto obtain the logo The logodesign and accompanyingtext, can be obtained in hard copyfrom TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteersprogramme or from the UNDepartment of PublicInformation, or downloadedfrom the IYV2001 or UN/ DPIweb sites:
Developmentand HumanRights Section TeamIYV 2001 UNDepartment of PublicInformation UNV,Postfach 260111 NewYork, NY JOO 17 D-53I 53 BONN USA Germany FAX:(+ I 212) 963 1186 FAX:( + 49 228) 815 200I E-Mail:[email protected] E-Mail:Team@iyv200 I .org Website: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/iyv/iyvlogo.htm Website: http://www.iyv200I .org
7. For further information TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme can provide,in hard copyor from its website, back ground informationon IYV2001, including a list of NationalCommittees or FocalPoints. TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme will also providepermission to use the IYV200 I logo internationally- or nationallyin countrieswhere no NationalCommittee or FocalPoint has been designated(as ex plained in sections4 and 5 above).
8. Liability The undersignedacknowledges that, in using the IYV200 I logoas explainedin its submissiondated ______to the NationalCommittee or nationallyappointed Focal Point or TeamIYV 200 I c/o the UnitedNations Volunteers programme:
• a. the undersignedis responsiblefor ensuring that the activitiesare carried out in accordancewith the applicable lawand for ensuring that appropriateinsurance is maintainedto coverthe risks arising out of such activities; • b. the UnitedNations does not assume any responsibilityfor the activitiesof the undersigned;and • c. the undersignedshaU hold harmlessand defendthe UnitedNations and its officialsagainst any action that may be broughtagainst the UnitedNations or its officialsas a resultof the use of the logo.
Signed ______
Date ______,...... __, ....._,._. _. ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UNagencies, interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations,foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have the following in common:
• that theyare not intendedto beprescrip1ive: all partners have complete freedom to make useof the noteor to workup their ow11guidance notes, as they wish
• that theyare by 110means exhaustive: UNV as focal point for IYV 2001will warmlywelcome additions to them
• that,desirably, every 11atio11al volunteer-based orga11isatio11, national volu11tary agency and eachGovernment will seek to ensuremaximum impactof !YV 2001by settingi11 train a processof extensiveco11sultation in 1999and 2000among the membershipsof community-basedand 11011-goveru111e11talbodies,designed to discoverwhat they wouldlike to seerealised in 2001and beyond,in termsof thefour aimsof JYV - enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• similarly,that, i11partnership with the volunteersector, eve,y Governmentwould establisha nationalco111mittee or co1111nissionfor IY\' 2001,requesting it
( 1) to assistthat process of consultation
(2) to prepareand facilitate an energeticprogramme of activitieslocally and natio11allyduring 2001 and
(3) to 1llakereco111mendatio11s to the Govern111e11tdesigned to enablerealisation of the aimsof IYV 2001in the country
• that I YV200 I isfor and aboutall kinds of volunteerseverywhere: it is not limitedto any one categoryof voluntee1;whether formal or informal;ongoing or occasional; agency-based (i.e. working side by side withemployees) or all-volunteer; "domestic" or i11ternatio11al;unremunerated or modestlyremunerated; based in an industrialised,transition or developingcountry; and whetherin directservice, advocacy or administrativeand governance(i.e. Board) positions
• that the conceptof"volu11teer" - and the ter111i11ology- differ from countryto countryand that, whilesome reflectionat 11atio11allevel may be desirableat the outsetto defineor redefineit, thisshould 1101 be allowedto distractparticipants from mountingan energeticprogramme of co11structil'eactivities which bring together people and organisationspossibly holding somewhatdiffering co11ceptio11s. Many types of activityvoh111tari9 1 undertakenmay qualify,even if the peopledoing them callthemselves by differentnames
• that e11e1)'cow1t1y, 01ga11isatio11 and group will 11010119· hal'e its 01v11agenda, in termsof what it can contributeto and wouldwish to securefro111 IY\! 200I, but is actil'elymcouraged to do so -providedonly that thisbe acco111pa11iedby a desire
to co-operate(rather than compete)local 9 1, 11atio11allyand globa/9• with others who are like-minded and alsowish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised.
• that J)'V2001 should abo11e all make volu11teeri11gl'isible, advancing positive and dispellingnegative images of volunteers a11dwhat they do to see the ai111sof the Yearrealised.
(._ United Na11un~Volu111ecr, 2/99 INTERNATIONAL OF VOLUNTEERS,2001
Background as to whyIYV: l. Volunteerservice has been a part of virtuallyevery civilisationand society. Definedin the broadest terms as the contributionthat individualsmake as non-profit,non-wage and non-careeraction for the well-beingof their neigh bour,community or societyat large,it takes many forms,from traditionaJcustoms of mutual self-helpto community copingresponses in times of crisis,and spearheadingeffort for relief,conflict resolution and the eradicationof poverty. The concept includeslocal and national volunteerefforts, as well as bilateraland internationalprogrammes which operateacross frontiers.Volunteers have come to play qualitativelyand quantitativelya significantpart in the welfare and progressof industrialisedand developingcountries and within nationaland UnitedNations programmes of hu manitarian assistance,technical cooperation and promotionof human rights,democratisation and peace. Volunteer ing is also the basis of muchof the activityof non-governmentalorganisations (NGOs), professional associations, trade unions and civicorganisations. Many campaigns in areassuch as literacy,immunisation and protectionof the environ ment are cruciallydependent upon volunteereffort.
2. The need for increasedvolunteer effort is greatertoday than ever,giventhe adverseimpact of globalproblems such as environmentaldegradation, drug abuse or HIV/AIDS on the more vulnerablesectors of society;given the concernof the internationalcommunity to focuson addressingsuch problems,with speciaJattention to developingcountries in generaland povertyeradication in particular;and giventhe contemporarytrend for civilsociety- in partnership with Governmentsand the privatesector - to assume ever greater responsibilitiesin the developmentprocess. This need wasreflected in the emphasisaccorded by the WorldSummit for SocialDevelopment to the importanceof newplayers, particularlyindividuals and organizationsof civilsociety, in taking the initiativeat internationaJ,nationaJ and local levels.The CopenhagenDeclaration and Programmeof Actioncall for reinforcementof the means and capacitiesfor peopleto participatein socialand economicprogrammes. However,while the contributionof volunteersis vast,much of their workoften goes unrecognizedprecisely because it does not involvethe paymentof market wagesand because it is often spontaneous,informal and unstructured.
3. The idea for an lnternationalYear of Volunteers(IYV) to be proclaimedas the world enters the 21st Century,to facilitatethe vital contributionsof volunteersand to recognizetheir achievements,arose in deliberationsof several majorinternational non-governmental organisations, such as the InternationalAssociation for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) with memberorganisations in over one hundred countries,the EuropeanVolunteer Centre (EVC) representing twenty thousand voluntaryassociations and the WorldYoung Women's Christian Associations (YWCA) with twenty-fivemil lion membersworld-wide. The conceptfirst emergedwithin the UnitedNations system at a PolicyForum in Japanin 1996of the UnitedNations Volunteers programme (UNV) and UnitedNations University (UNU). UNVdrew the pro posal to the attention of the May 1996Annual Session of the ExecutiveBoard of its parent body,the UnitedNations DevelopmentProgramme, which took note of the proposalto considerIYV as an instrument to promotevolunteerism. Subsequently,the UNDPAdministrator contacted in writing the 54 GovernmentPermanent Representativesto the UnitedNations who are membersof the UNEconomic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC) as regardstheir interestin IYV.It wasagreed that the February1997 proposal of the Governmentof Japan,transmitted through the Secretary-General,be placedon the agendaof ECOSOCin July 1997.ECOSOC, in its resolution1977/44 of 22 July1997, recommended to the UN GeneralAssembly that it adopt the resolutionproclaiming 2001 the InternationalYear of Volunteers.The UNGen eral Assemblyin its 52ndsession on 20 November1997 in Resolution52/17, co-sponsored by 123countries,decided to take the action called for in the ECOSOCresolution. 4. Since the idea of IYV200 I was first mooted, there has been growingsupport from a broad range of interested parties:from the Governmentsof developingand developedcountries as wellas those in economictransition, volun teer sending organisations,NGOs and from individualsas wellas from the UN system itself. UNbodies expressing support are: UNAIDS,United Nations Centre for HumanSettlements (Habitat), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification(UNCCD) , United NationsEconomic Commission for Europe(UNECE), United NationsEconomic and SocialCommission for Asiaand the Pacific( ESCAPl, UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrgani sation(UNESCO), United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF),United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United NationsInternational Drug Control Programme ( UNDCP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees( UNHCR), United Nations Officefor Project Services (UNOPS).United Nations ResearchInstitute for Social Development (UNRISD),International Fund forAgricultural Development (!FAD), the InternationalLabor Organisation ([LO) and the WorldFood Programme (WFP).
5. The premise underlying lYV2001 is that voluntaryservice is called for more than ever before to tackle areas of priority concern in the social,economic, cultural, humanitarian and peacebuildingfields and that more people are needed to offertheir serviceas volunteers.For this to happen,there is a need forgreater recognitionand facilitationof volunteerwork and greater promotionof such service,drawing upon the best initiativesand efforts- the "best prac tice"- of volunteers,networked to the greatesteffect. There is a strong feelingalso that the designationof an Interna tional Yearof Volunteersby the UN GeneralAssembly provides a valuableframework and establishesa favourable environmentfor the growth and yet more strategic use of volunteercontributions. The need for a year and not a shorter period has also been stressedto takeaccount of and to celebratethe verydiverse forms that volunteeringtakes from one country to another and betweenregions, to give time for ideas to mature and for a shared awarenessto be formedand to ensure that the Yearextends beyond Governments and the UNto touch all sectorsof society.
6. IYV200 I should mirror one of the key attributes of volunteers- their convictionthat the global begins with the local:i.e. that economicand social progressis not so much engenderedfrom the top down,but from the localityand the grassrootsupward. IYV200 I willconcentrate on the localcommunity, the citizens'group, the village,the inhabit ants of the megacityand not a worldsummit on volunteerism.lt willdepend greatlyon a highlydecentralised effort to raise the awarenessof societies,nations and the internationalpublic concerningthe relevance,significance, value and potentialof volunteercontributions for their well-being.~lodern informationtechnology will be used to ensure ideas are widelyshared. Associationsand representativebodies will be encouragedto go to their community-level membership,and that membershipshould suggestand undertake activitiesfor the Year.Not only is this perspective likelyto attract the support of community-focusedgroups and volunteerbodies and to tap indigenousknowledge systemsand coping mechanisms,but it should also ensure that IYV200 I in itself requiresonly minimal additional financing. UNAgency suggestions have includedusing regular meetingsas a platformfor IYVdiscussions in their fieldsof specialization. Donorcountries haveoffered to study the possibleearmarking ofTrust Fund resources,in cluding personnel resources,to assist in preparations for IY\'. Developingcountries have expressed the view that resourcescould be generatedat the country level.
Objectivesof IYV:
7. A first objectiveis increasedrecognition. National Governments and localauthorities could ensure that they have mechanismsfor drawingthe voluntarysector into the consultationprocess; a countrystudy mightdescribe and quan tify the contributionof the voluntarysector to national welfareand advance; awardsmight be instituted for the best examplesof individual,small group, local community and nationalNGO - and perhapsalso international- volunteer action.
8. A second objectiveis increasedfacilitation. Each society is best placedto definewhat wouldencourage or inhibit volunteeraction among its people,so that the followingare no more than examplesof measureswhich might com mend themselvesin differingcircumstances. The State might put its training facilitiesat the disposal of volunteer efforts on a concessionalbasis, to encouragetechnical competence,sound managementand accountabilityin the voluntarysector; it could ensure that volunteersfrom duly recognisedbodies are affordedlegal status, insurance coverand socialwelfare protection on a par with other workers;public servants and privatesector employees might be accordedspecial leaveof absence to undertake volunteerservice; tax deductibilitymight be extendedto taxpayers supportingvoluntary initiative; volunteer service might be acceptedunder appropriateconditions as an alternativeto military service; a proportion of resources- such as cement, roofing,textbooks, medical supplies and funding - mightbe set a:.idefor use specificallyby volunteerbodies. The UNsystem might also seek to identifyhow it could best further facilitatevolunteer service on the part of civilsociety, including support to the establishmentof nationalvol unteer corps to tacklesuch issuesas environmentaldegradation, HIV/ A IDS, and protectionand promotionof cultural heritage.
9. A third objectiveis networking.Television, radio, the printed pressand electronicmedia couldassist in relatingand exchangingthe achievementsof volunteers,thereby enabling"best practice" and best proceduresto be replicated,and avoidingthe need for each localcommunity to reinventthe wheel. This exchangecan be localof course,but is also feasibleat provinciallevel and with immediatelyneighbouring countries, and internationally,too, with the assistance of electronicmedia.
10. A fourth objectiveis promotion. The effort might be aimed at attracting more requests for the deploymentof volunteers,at attracting offersof service from new candidateswith a view to enhancing operationalactivities, and generallycreating a climateof publicand officialopinion even moresupportive of voluntaryaction. This can also be linked back to some of the activitiessuggested under recognition,notably awards schemes, and under networking, notablyin terms of media features. The competenceand professionalismof volunteersmight be stressed. The ben efits accruingto society from their activities(such as blood donation, literacycampaigns and environmentalclean ups) can also be underlined.
Process:
11. ln the immediateterm, in line with its own mandateand successiveGeneral Assembly resolutions and decisionsof UNDP'sgoverning body regardingits roles in promotingvolunteer concepts and service, UNVwill continue to en couragethe sharing of ideas on IYV200 I and assist those t-.lemberStates seeking further informationabout it. UNV willalso continue to workclosely with the UNsystem as a wholeto evolvepractical modalities of collaborationand to delineatespecific areas of volunteercontributions which individualAgencies might wish to pursue in line with their own mandatesand programmesin areas of major internationalconcern. Workwill be undertaken to establishbase line data on volunteercontributions at country leveland proceduresfor evaluatingand follow-upto IYV.In all of the above,the guidelinesfor future internationalYears established by ECOSOCwill be close!)'adhered to, whilethe expe rienceof previousinternational Years will be drawn upon.
12. Within the UnitedNations system, IYV will be brought to the attention of the United NationsInter-Agency fora such as the ConsultativeCommittee on Programmeand OperationalQuestions (CCPOQ), where such issues as the potential role therein of the ResidentCoordinator could be discussed. UNagency suggestions have included,for ex ample,recommending to volunteersworking in Agencyprogrammes that they link up with localvolunteer groups and contributeto discussionson volunteerism;examining areas whereassistance could be providedin the formof techni cal and managerialadvice to volunteergroups as wellas areas for forgingoperational links with such groups; and payingclose attention to waysin whichAgency interventions could providea supportiveenvironment for the growth of volunteeractivity, including integrating volunteers into their planningand implementation.These ideas and others wouldbe facilitatedby havingflagship United Nations publications focus on the contributionof voluntaryaction and volunteersto lastinghuman development.
13. On the organizationalside,some of the keyinternational NGOs which initiated or supported IYVmight form, with UNV,a light and flexiblemechanism for co-ordinatingthe planningof the Yearat the global level,while the bilateral volunteer-sendingbodies which work closelywith UNVsuch as the Secretariatof JapaneseOverseas Co-operation Volunteers(JOCV) of japan InternationalCooperation Agency {JICA), the PhilippinesNational Volunteer Service Co ordinating Agency,the PeaceCorps of the UnitedStates, Germany's Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) and the NationalService Secretariat of Ghana might take a leadingrole in their respectivecountries. Onepossibility for preparingfor the Yearat countrylevel is the compilationof a simpleand inexpensivekit as a guide to the objectivesand activitiesof the Yearand waysof monitoringand evaluatingprogress, which can be dissemi nated to schoolsand collegesand to civilsociety organizations. Another is for national associationsor committees whichorganise International Volunteer Day on 5 Decemberto be strengthenedwhere they exist, or establishedwhere they do not, to worktowards the identificationof initiativesfor the Yearwhich expand the scope for volunteeringin their countriesand whichreach out to all sectorsof society.IYV 200 I has alreadybeen shared on the Internet and it is anticipatedthat a discussiongroup willbe set up to widen participation.
14. Tosum up, the manywho have supported IYV200 I believethat volunteercontributions can be yet moreeffective than they alreadyare in countriesindustralised, developing and in economictransition. Manyof the groups and organizationswhich havealready responded positively believe also that, to this end, an institutionalenvironment is neededwhich is more favourablyinclined to makingfull use of volunteercreativity and motivation,which enhances the "human face"of the workof the UnitedNations and whichpromotes peaceful coexistence. The openingyear of the new centuryand millenniumappears to be a most auspiciousmoment to assess the achievementof the past and to givesuch action freshencouragement.
Website:www.iyv200I.org Email: Team@iyv200I .org Postaladdress: TeamIYV 2001 c!oUNV Postfach260 111 D-53153Bonn Germany
Publishedby UnitedNations Volunteers ' ~ ' ..... ~ ..... •• "'• u-t•• • ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNY,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 200I, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UN agencies,interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations,foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have thefollowing in common:
• that theyare 1101 intended to beprescriptive: all partners hal'e complete freedom to make useof the noteor to workup their ownguidance notes, as they wish
• that theyare by no 111ea11sexhaustil'e: UN\' asfocal point.for I}'\' 2001 will warmlywelcome additions to them
• that,desirably, eve1y national volunteer-based 01ga11isation, national 1 1olu11taryagency and eachGovernment will seek to ensuremaximum impactof IYV 200I by settingin train a processof extensiveconsultation in 1999and 2000 amongthe membershipsof community-basedand 11011-govenunentalbodies, designed to disco1-erwhat they wouldlike to see realised in 200I and beyo11d,i11 terms of thefour aimsof JY\' -enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• similarly,that, in partnershipwith the 11ol1111teersector, el'ery GoPemmentwould establisha nationalcommittee or con11nissio11for IYV 2001,requesti11g it
(1) to assistthat process of consultation
(2) to prepareand facilitate an energeticprogramme of aClii1itieslocally and nationallyduring 200 I and
(3) to make recommendationsto the Go11er111ne11tdesig11ed to e11ablerealisation of the aims of 1l'V 2001 in the country
• that/1'\12001 is for and aboutall kinds of volunteerse1 1erywhere:it is 1101limited to any onecatego,y of volunteer,whether formal or informal;ongoing or occasio11al;agency-based (i.e. working side by side with employees) or all-1 1olu11teer;"domestic" or international;1111remu11erated or modestly remunerated; based i11 a,, industrialised,tra11sit ion or developingcountry; and whetherin directserl'ice, advocacy or administrativeand govemance(i.e. Board) positio11s
• that the conceptof"volunteer" - a,1dthe terminology- differ.fromcountry to cou11t1yand that, whilesome reflectionat nationalle1 1el may be desirableat the outsetto defineor red~f,neit, thisshould not be allowedto distractparticipants from mountingan energeticprogramme of constructiveactil'ities which bring together people a11d organisations possibly holding somewhatdiffering conceptions. Many types of activityvoluntarily undertaken may qualify,e1 1e11if the peopledoing them callthemselves by differentnames
• that el'e1ycountry, organisation and group will 11010110· hal'e its own agenda,in termsof what it can contributeto and wouldwish to securefrom IYV 2001,but is activelyencouraged to do so -pro\lided0119 1 that this be accompaniedby a desire to co-operate(rather than compete)locally, nationally and globallywith otherswho are like-minded and alsowish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised.
• thatIYV 2001should above all make volunteeringvisible, advancing positive and dispelli11g11egative images of \/Olu11teers and whatthey do to see the aimsof the Yearrealised.
l) l mtec.lNation, Volunteer, 2/99 ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UN agencies,interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations.foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have the following in common:
• that theyare 11ot i11te11ded to be prescriptfre: all part11ers hal'e co111plete_li·eedo111 to make useof the noteor to ll'orkup their ow11guidance notes, as they wish
• tht1tthey t1re by 110met111s exhaustive: UNV as focal point for IY\' 2001 will wan11lj1 welcomeadditio11s to them
• that,desirably, every national vo/1111/eer-based organisation, 11atio11al 1•0/1111tc11y agency and eachGo1w11ment 111ill seek to e11s11re111axi111u111 impact of IYV 200I by settingi11 train a processcf exte11sii•e co11s11/tat ion i11 I 999 a11d2000 a111011gthe 111e111bershipsof co111111w1ity-based t111d11011-gover11111e11tal bodies,designed to discol'erwhat they ll'ouldlike to see realised in 200I and beyond,in termsof thefour t1i111sof !Y\' -enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• simiforly,that, in partnershipwith the volunteersecto1; e11e1y Gowrnme11t would establisha 11atio11alrn111mittee or commissionfor IYV 2001,req11esti11g it
( 1) to assistthat process of cons11/tatio11
(2) to prepareandfacilitate an e11e1geticprogramme of acti11itieslocally a11d 1wtio11alb• during 200/ and
(3) to make recommendatio11sto the Governmentdesigned to enablerealisation of the 11i111sof In' 200I in the cou11t1y
• that /YV 2001is for and aboutall kinds of 11olu11teerse11e1ywhere: it is not li111itedto any onerntcg01y cf 1•ol1111tce,; whether formal or informal;011goi11g or occasional; age11cy-bt1Sed ( i.e. working side by sidewith employees) or all-1•011111/eer;"domes/ ic" or i11tematio11al;u11rem1111erated or modestly ren11111emted; based in a11i11dustrialised, tm11sitio11 or del'elopi11g co1111t1y; a11d whetherin directsen'ice, advocncy or t1d111i11istmtiw and go11ema11ce (i.e. Board) positions
• that the conceptof"11ol1111teer" - and the ter111i11ology- differfro111 co1111t1y to cou11t1y and that, whilesome r~flectio11at 11atio11allevel 111ay be desimbleat the outsetto defineor redefi11eit, thisshould not be allowedto distractparticipa11ts_liw11 111ou11ti11gan e11e1getic programme ofconstructil'e actil'ities ll'hich bring together people a11d 01g1111isatio11s po.isibij' holcli11g so111ewhatdfferil1g co11ceptio11s. J\lt111y types of activity 1•0/1111tarilj1 1111dertake11may qualUj,,e1·e11 f the peopledoing them callthemsell'es by dijfere11t11a111es
• that e11e1ycow1t1y, orga11isatio11 a11d group will not 011lj1 have its OIi'// agenda,in termscf what it can co11trib11tcto a11d would11·ish to securefrom IYV 200I, but is actii1ely encouragedto do so -prol'ided011lj 1 that thisbe acco111pa11iedby a desire
to co-opemte(mther than compete)localij 1, natio,wlb•and globalij 1 with otherswho are like-111i11dcd andalso wish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised.
• thatIY\' 2001should above all make volu11teeri11g11isible, ad11c111cing positive and dispelling1wgat il'e images of 1•0/1111tras and what they do to see the aims of the Yearrealised. ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNY,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments,UN agencies,interna tional and national NGOsor community-basedorganisations,Joundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have thefollowing in common:
• that theyare not intendedto beprescriptive: all partners have complete freedom to make use~{the noteor to workup their ow,,guidance notes, as they wish
• that theyare by 110means exhaustive: UNV as focal pointfor TYV2001 will warmlywelcome additions to them
• that,desirably, every national volu11teer-based o,ganisation, national vohmtmy agency and l'achGoi 1en1111entwill seek to ensuremaxinum1 impact of I YV 200I by settingin traina processof extensiveconsultation in 1999and 2000 11111011gthe membershipsof com,nunity-basedand 11011-gol'emmentalbodies, designed to disco11erwhat they wouldlike to see realised in 2001and beyond,i11 terms of thefouraims ~(TY\! - enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• similarly,that, in partnershipwith the volunteersector, e1•e1y Government would establish a nationalcommittee or co111111issio11for IYV 2001,req11esti11g it
( 1) to assistthat process~r co11sultatio11
(2) to prepareand facilitate a11 energetic programme of actil'itieslocally and 11ationallyduring 200 I and
(3) to makereco111111endatio11s to the Go1 1er,11nentdesigned to enablerealisation of the aims cf l n1 2001in the cow1t1y
• that /Y\f 2001is for and aboutall kinds of volunteerse1·e1ywhere: it is not limitedto any onecatego,y of 11olwuee1;whether formalor informal;ongoing or occasio11al; agency-based ( i.e. working side by sidewith employees) or all-Polu11teer; "domestic" or intematio11al;1111re111w1erated or modestly remunerated; based in a11industrialised, transition or developingco1111t1y; and whetherin directsen•ice, advocacy or administrativeand go11ernance(i.e. Board) positions
• that the conceptof "Polu111eer"- and the terminology- differfrom countryto COllllfl)' and that, whilesome r~fiectio11at 11ationallevel may be desirableat the outsetto defineor redefi11eit, thisshould 1101 be allowedto distractpartiripallls Jiwn mountinga11 energetic programme of constructiveact ii•ities which bri11g together people and organisationspossibly holding somewhatdiffering conceptions. Al any types of actil'ity1•olu11tarily undertaken may qualify,el'en U" the peopledoing them callthemselves by d[ffere11tnames
• that everycow111y, 01ga11isatio11 and group ll'illnot only l1cweits own agenda,i11 terms~( ll'hatit rnn contributeto and wouldwish to sernrefromIYV 200/, but is actil'elye11co11raged to do so-provided011~ 1 that this be acco111pa11iedby a desire to co-operate(rather than compete)locally, 11atio11ally a11d globally with others who are like-111i11ded and alsowish to see the aims of the Yearrealised.
• that TY\/2001 should abo11e all make l'olu11teeri11gl'isible, adm11cing positive and dispellingnegative images~{ vol1111teers and whatthey do to see the aims ~fthe }earrealised. •
Vf•~-·\ • \ \ I /. ~ .::I FOR PRELIMINARYREF6ECJION ~ I 2 0 0 1
The followingare topics which might be consideredin preliminaryreflection about IYV200 I inyour coun try. The concentrationof the Yearis clearlyupon service by volunteers:however, the combinedcontribution of volunteersin a specific sector or for a specific cause may be seen as amountingto voluntaryaction. It will be for each country to determinethe volunteerservice/voluntary action parameterswhich it wishes to set for the Year.
• What are the traditionalsolidarity mechanisms in your country?
• Terminology:do you haveequivalents for "volunteer" and "voluntaryaction" in your language?
• Whatis a "volunteer"for your purposes?Do you wish or need to makeany distinctions,according to conceptsand practicesin your society,as to what willor will not be consideredto be "volunteer"in the course of IYV200 I?
• Whatbriefly do you see as being the fundamental motivationor philosophyof volunteers?
• What is voluntaryaction and what characterisesa voluntaryagency? Do you see a point where voluntaryservice stops and politicalaction begins?
• Who engagesin volunteerwork in your country?Do some segmentsof the populationdo more and others less?
• Whatare the qualitatilieimpacts of volunteerson your society?Have they been measured?
• What is the quantitativecontribution of volunteersto your society?Has it been analysed?
• ls there a risk of exploitingvolunteers, in deployingthem in a way that may substitute them for employment creation proper?
• Do the authorities in your country recognisevolunteer service as activecitizenship, empowering communities and contributingto good governance?Or is it perceivedas rivalry?
• Are there examplesof your nationalor localgovernment welcoming volunteers as partners in deliveringservices to citizens?
• Doesyour country'sadministration have arrangements for recognitionand assistanceof volunteersand voluntary organisations?Which if any Ministryhas responsibilityfor this?
• Do you haveat nationallevel any umbrellaor co-ordinatingbody(ies) for volunteerorganisations which should playa significantrole in IYV200 I in your country?
• Wouldit be usefulto you to havea code of conduct for volunteerswho serve withintheir own cou11t1y?And/or to be able to availof one forvolunteers from abroadsen 1i11gi11 your country?
• ls it easy,or difficult,to set up a volunteer-basedactivity in the country?
• ls the experiencein your country that, beyonda certain stage or size,there mayalso be a need for part or fulltime staff - perhaps remunerated- to strengthen the administrationand accountingof volunteerorganisations?
• Are there opportunities for training in volunteer management,for volunteersor paid staff asked to take on managementroles?
• Whatopportunities exist for your volunteers and their organisationsto networktheir experienceand best practice? 8 PORCOMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS AND NGOs
The followingare topics and questions which you might find it useful to discuss in the course of planning for IYV2001 inyour local villageor city group.
• Are there waysin whichmen and womenin your villageor suburb traditio11allycome togetherto help each other, to worktogether for the commongood e.g.harambee, rninga or bnmngay?
• Has your communityhad to cope with a major crisis in the last few years?Maybe drought or flooding?A lost harvest?A forestfire? An impassableroad? Riot or commotion?Civil war? An epidemic? How did youcope with this? Did it lead to some peoplevoluntarily giving of their time or resourcesto help others?
• Haveyou set up,say, a developmentassociation, a credit union,a co-operative,a communitycentre, in whichsome peoplevoluntarily put their skillsand knowledgeat the disposalof all?Has it been a success?
• What is the best single thing your communityhas ever achievedby workingtogether?
• ls there one womanor man in your communitywho for you personifiesthis volunteerspirit?
• Whatare the biggestobstacles to successthat yourvolunteer efforts have run into?Lack of money?Lack of transport? The elders didn't approve?Lack of self-confidence?Shortage of ideas?Shortage of skills?Suspicion by others of the volunteers'motivation? Lack of officialsupport?
• Do you feel that your volunteeractivities are fully appreciatedfor the contributionthey make to development? Bythe chiefs and elders?By the local administration?By religiousauthorities? By your political representatives? Bycivil servants? By government? Who wouldyou most liketo see valuethem morethan they do now?
• Whatwould be the thingswhich would help you most to tap the volunteergoodwill which is in your community? A better meeting place? Encouragement from officialdom?Training in such things as needs assessment, administration,book-keeping? Cement or some other supplies?.... ?
• Haveyou heard of a successin another villageor communitygroup whichyou'd like to imitate,an approachyou'd liketo try? Doyou need help to get the fulldetails about it?Could you visit it on the spot?Would you like radio, TV & newspapersto carry moreabout such successes?
• Is it fairlyeasy, or difficult,for volunteergroups to set up and be recognisedby the authoritiesin your country?
• 15your group affiliated to an organisationat nationallevel? Can you effectively make your views known to officialdom through it?
• Are there arrangements by which local and national Governmentformally recognisesand assists volunteer organisations?Which if any Ministryhas responsibilityfor your Government'sdealings with such organisations?
• The UNGeneral Assembly hopes that each countrywill set up a nationalcommittee to encouragevolunteerism in the courseof IYV200 I and beyond.What would your group most like your Government to do to ensurethat volunteer servicebe better recognisedand better helped,and that volunteers'contributions are more widelyknown? Will you put somesuggestions to the committee?Are there new waysin whichyour group could assist Governmentin return?
• Willyour group itselfalso organisesome activitiesfor IYV200 I? 8 SOMEGUIDANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
All volunteerservice is based on an act of will of an individual:she or he can decide to seek to be of help to others,or not to be. Everygreat movementin human history has begun with such an act of will on the part of one or more individuals.While there is progress in every society, many other individuals and groups suffer poverty,disability, oppression, a deterioratingenvironment or whatever.IYV 2001 will not be the success which is intendedunless more individuals in their thousands rally to give of their time, resourcesand compassion as volunteers,whatever the cause. It is hoped that the Yearwill inspire them to make that act of will, that crucial decision.
• Howeverdifficult your own life,can yousee that youare right nowimmeasurably more fortunatethan somewhom you see in your neighbourhood,hear of on radio or TV,or read about in the newspapers?
• Think howyou might best contribute.What haveyou got to offer?Whatever your strengths (or weaknesses),there is somethingyou can do for others.Maybe youare good at languages,at book-keeping- so you could help teach or train others
• Maybeyou've been through the experienceof illness,addiction, bereavement, imprisonment - with which you could help counselothers
• Maybeyou are good at sport - and can introduceyoung people to it
• Maybeyou havea gift for leadingpeople, for conceivingprojects and workingout their differentstages - and can help a volunteerorganisation in this way
• Maybeyou are retired frombusiness or industry - and can help a companywhich has problems
• Maybeyou are well-offfinancially - and couldcontribute to a deservingcharity
• Maybeyou art' best at one-on-one relationships- and can help that neighbour that you know of: the old age pensioner,AIDS victim, drop-out, hospital patient, unemployed youth, disabled person or whomever
• Decidehow mu :h time per weekyou can give to volunteerwork and lookfor an activitywhich will achieve something usefuland giveyou satisfactionin that time
• Lookaround in your neighbourhoodor nation for the group that is alreadyactive,and join them:don't feelthat you necessarilyhave to set up somethingnew
• Or keepyour e)eS and ears open to whatother individualsand groupshave succeeded with elsewhere,and thinkof doing the same thing in yourcommunity
• Perhapsthere is an old traditionof solidaritywithin yoursociety which has been lost to sight in recent times and whichcould be r~vivedto suit today'scircumstances?
• Maybeyou haV<' a bright publicity,fund-raising or commercialidea which you could offer to the NationalCommittee for lYV2001?
• Couldyou encourage your colleagues at work,your friendsat schoolor college,the otherwomen in the village,your fellowworshippt-rs, to come togetherto mount an activitydesigned to benefiteveryone?
• As a qualifiedand experiencedmid-career person or retiree,perhaps able to speak other languages,could you consideroffering a year or two of your life to humanitarian aid, developmentco-operation, or the promotionof human rights and democracyin some other part of the world? FOR UNITED NATIONSAGENCIES
Each UnitedNalions agency is invited to consider amongst the possibilities outlined below those which it might find feasible,and to suggest others which it feels could help make a success of the planning and prepa ration,implementation and follow-upof the Year.
• to reviewthe involvementof volunteersin its upstream or downstreamactivities
• to considerwhat specialactivity the agencymight undertakein 200 I ( with appropriatepreparations in 1999and 2000) to mark th~Year in waysdesigned to enhancethe involvementof volunteersin its activities
• to reviewthe user-friendlinessof its priorities and proceduresto civil society in general and to researchwhat specificassistance it is rendering,or wouldbe able and willingto render to build capacityin voluntarybodies and volunteerorganii,ations in developingand economictransition countries
• to considerwhether the actual or potentialcontribution of volunteerservice to the work of your agency might merit discussionby its governingbody at its 200 I session
• to encouragey,)ur country-level representatives to participateactively in UN and national preparationsfor, and activitiesdurLng the Year
• to devotean issueof its main magazine,or a section thereof,to IYVand volunteerissues in the lead up to,and in the courseof 200I
• to supplyto the UN Departmentof PublicInformation at globallevel and to UNInformation Centres at regionalor nationallevel written information, photographs and videosabout the contributionsmade by volunteers both national and internationalto your agency'sprogrammes
• to featurein its Internetwebsite some examplesof best practicefrom its experienceof involvingvolunteers in its activities,and to createa link with the IYV 200l website
• to help determinethe"road-map" to IYV200 I, in terms of drawingthe Yearto the attentionof relevantconferences and other activities;and to bookmarkappropriate entries on the IYV 200 I websitecalendar
• to reviewthe possibilitiesfor its staff members,spouses and retiredstaff members to undertakevoluntary activity, whether in the area of the agency'sown competenceor beyond ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments,UN agencies, interna tional and national NGOsor community-basedorganisations,foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series, all of whichhave thefollowing in common:
• that theyare not intendedto beprescriptive: all partners hal'e complete freedom to make useof the noteor to workup their ownguidance notes, as they wish
• that they areby 110means exhaustive: UNV as focal point.for IYV 2001 will warmlywelcome additions to them
• that,desirably, every national volunteer-based organisation, national 1 10/untaryagency and eachGovernment will seek to ensuremaximum impactof IYV 2001 by settingin traina processof extensil'econsultation in 1999and 2000among the membershipsof community-basedand non-governmentalbodies, designed to discoverwhat they wouldlike to seerealised in 2001and beyond,in termsof thefour aimsof ff\' - enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• similarly,that, in partnershipwith the volunteersector, every Governmentwould establisha nationalcommittee or commissionfor IYV 2001,requesting it
( 1) to assistthat process of consultation
(2) to prepareand facilitate an energeticprogra111111e ~ractivities locally and 11atio11allyduring 2001 and
(3) to make recommendationsto the Governmentdesigned to enablerealisation of the aims of lYV 2001 in the country
• that JYV2001 is for and aboutall kinds of volunteersel'erywhere: it is not limitedto any onecategory of 11olunteer,whether formal or infor111al;ongoing or occasio11al;agency-based (i.e. working side by sidewith employees) or all-volunteer; ''domestic" or international;u11remu11erated or modestly remunerated; based in a11industrialised, transition or developingcountry; and whetherin directservice, advocacy or administrativeand governance(i.e. Board) positions
• that the conceptof "110/unteer"- and the terminology- differfrom countryto countryand that, whilesome r~flectionat nationallevel may be desirableat the outsetto defineor redefineit, this shouldnot be allowedto distractparticipants from mountingan ene1geticprogramme of co11structii1e actii1ities 1vhichbring together people and orga11isationspossibly holding somewhatdiffering conceptions. Many types of acti11ity11olu11tari0 1 undertakenmay qualify,even if the peopledoing them callthemselves by differentnames
• that eve,y count1y,organisation and group will not 01101 have its ow11agenda, in terms of what it can contributeto and wouldwish to sew refrom IY\I 2001,but is actil'e&1 encouragedto do so -providedonly that this be accompaniedby a desire
to co-operate( rather than compete)local 0 1, 11ational01 andglobaf 0 1 with others1vho are like-minded and alsowish to see the aims of the Yearrealised.
• that I YV 200I shouldabove all make volunteeringvisible, ad1'Q11cing positive and dispellingnegatii 1e imagesof volunteers and whatthey do to see the aims~f the Yearrealised.
l ., United Naiion, Volunte.:r, '2/99 • •
\!:~·-\ ;; ~ .:.:I 9 TOWARDSSETTING UP A NATIONALCOMMITTEE ~ 2 0 0 1
The followingsuggestions may be helpful:
• that extensiveprior consultationtake place among volunteerorganisations, national NGOs and communitygroups: (i) as to what they would wish to see come out of the Yearin your country in relationto the four main aims of IYV 2001;and (ii) as to representationon the NationalCommittee; and that Governmentconsult with such groups in establishingthe Committee
• that there also be consultationsbetween relevant Ministers and Ministries
- on the aims of !YV2001 - on what approachesGovernment might itself wish to initiate - on the membershipand remit of the NationalCommittee, and - on the support whichthe Headof State and the Governmentmight give to markingIYV
• that the NationalCommittee be givena dear remit
- to assist the processof continuingconsultation - to prepare & facilitatean energeticprogramme of IYVactivities locally & nationally,including raising funds or seekingsponsorship if necessaryand appropriate;and - in due course to recommendto Governmentmeasures to achievethe aims of IYV200 I in the country
• that it be clearto whom the Committeeshould report at specifiedintervals on its work in preparingfor the Year,in promptingor itselforganising activities during 100 I, and in tenderingfinal recommendationsto Government
• that the membershipof the Committeebe a blend of representativesof relevantMinistries, universities with related researchor training roles,business and industry,foundations, leading NGOsand communitygroups, together with some individualsin their personalcapacity
• that the individualsbe chosen from,for example,serving and former volunteers( domestic or international),and retired persons who have distinguishedthemselves in the PublicService, the ForeignService, the service of the UnitedNations, etc
• that an eminentand independentpublic figure with the necessarystature to secureGovernment's consideration of the NationalCommittee's recommendations be invited to chair the Committee'sdeliberations
• that, to help organise some of the key local and national events of the Year- indeed perhaps to provide some prospectivemembers of the NationalCommittee - it may be possible to look to existingco-ordinating bodies of volunteer organisations and voluntary agencies, and/or to those groups of serving and former national and internationalvolunteers in your country whichhave traditionallyco-operated to mark InternationalVolunteer Day on December5
• that the Committeelink its efforts to the internationaleffort, through the IYV200 I website ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggested that UNV,as focal point for the preparations for IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparing for and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UN agencies, interna tional and national NGOsor community-based orga11isations,fou11datio11sor private sector companies. The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series, all of which have thefollowing in common:
• that theyare 1101 intended to beprescriptive: all partners hal'e complete_fi·eedom to make useof the 11oteor to workup their 011111guidance notes, as they wish
• that theyare by no mea11sexhaustive: UN\' asfocal poi11tfor I }'V200 I will warm01 welcomeadditio11s to them
• that,desirably, eve,y 11atio11alvo/1111/eer-based organisation, national l'ol1111ta,y agency a11d each Go1 1ernme11tll'ill seek to e11suremaxi11111111 impact of IYV 2001 by setti11gin trai11a processof extensil'eco11sultation i11 1999 and 2000 amongthe memberships~{con1111i111ity-based and 11on-go11em111ental bodies, designed to discoverll'hat they wouldlike to see realised in 2001a11d beyond, in terms~{the.four aims~{ !YV -enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• si111ilar01, that, i11part11ership with the volunteersec/O1; el'ery Governme11twould establisha 11atio11alcommittee or com111issio11for I YV 2001, requesting it
( 1) to assistthat process of co11sultatio11
(2) to preparea11dfacilitate a11 energetic programme of acti11itieslocally a11d natio11ally during 2001 a11d
(3) to makereco111111e11datio11s to the Govern111e11t designed to enablerealisation of the aimsof IY\1 2001in the co1111try
• that TY\/200 I isfor a11dabolll all ki11dsof vol1111teerse11ery111here: it is 11ot limited to a11yO11e categmy of volw1tee1;whether formal or i,fonnal;011goi11gor occasio11al; agency-based (i.e. worki11g side by sidewith employees) or all-volunteer; ''domestic" or i11ternatio11al;u11remw1erated or modest0 1 re111u11erated;based in a11industrialised, transition or developingcow111y; a11d 111/ietheri11 direct sen 1ice,adl'ocacy or ad111i11istrativea11dgo1 1emance (i.e.Board} positions
• that the co11ceptof"1 1olu11teer"- a11d the termi11ology- differ from co1111tryto country and that, whilesome rejlectio11at 11atio11alle11el may be desirableat the outsetto defi11eor reci~fi11eit, this shouldnot be allowedto distractparticipants from 11101111ti11ga,1e11ergetic programme of constructiveactivities which bri11g together people and organisationspossib0 1 holding somewhatd([fering conceptions. Many types~F activity voluntari01 undertakenmay qualify,em, if thepeople doing them callthe111selt 1es by differentnames
• that eve,y country,organisation and group ll'illnot on01 have its ow11agenda, in termsof whatit can contributeto a11d 111011/dwish to securefront J}'V2001, but is acti11elyencouraged to do so -pro11idedonly that this be accompaniedby a desire to co-operate(rather than compete)locally, 1111tional0 1 andgloba/0• with otherswho are like-minded and alsowish to see the aimsof the }earrealised.
• that f Y\1 2001should abo11e all make volunteeri11gl'isible, advancing positi1 1e and dispellingnegatil'e images of volunteers and whatthey do to see the aimsof the Yearrealised.
l: ~ United Natmn, Volunteer, 2/99 /, . \J:~-· I / ~ d FORPRIVATE SECTOR BODIES ~ 2 0 0 1
Recentyears haveseen growth - in industrialcountries in particular- in "corporatevolunteering". Business and industrial undertakingshave recognised that enabling staff to participatein voluntaryaction in the local ity, or in some cases overseas,encourages business, enhancesjob satisfaction and makes for good public rela tions. Corporatevolunteering locally, nationally and internationallyis likely to be a topic of considerableinter est in the course of IYV2001. There follow some questions which may assist community-basedgroups, Govern ments and privatesector companies themselves to reflect on what more could be achieved by volunteersfrom the sector and on how this might be facilitated.
• Doyou feel in generalterms that, withoutdetriment to their productionor provisionof services,or to marketingof their products,business and industry can and should make a social contributionto societyabove and beyond the employmentthey offer?
• Are there examples of corporate volunteering in your locality?Can you access individual firms which have experimentedwith it, to learn how they feelabout the experience?
• Arethere needs in your localitywith whichfirms and their employeescould particularlyhelp?
• Howmight firms in your country best be convincedthat there could be advantagefor them in encouragingtheir staffsto undertakesome volunteerservice?
• Doyou knowof a businessor industry whichhas been helpedwith some of its productionor marketingproblems by volunteersfrom elsewherein the country,or from abroad?
• Haveyou heard of the workof the"Senior Executive Services", or of the UNISTAR and TOKTENshort-term volunteer consultancy programmes of the United Nations Volunteers,which help business and industry? Would you like informationabout them?
• Towhat extent could retiredpersons in your countrybe encouragedand enabledto maketheir knowledgeand skills availableon a volunteerbasis to commercialand manufacturingconcerns at home or abroad?
• Wouldyou welcome having greater access to researchand publicationson this topic?
• Wouldyou feelit usefulto havea seminar in your area to study e.g.the benefitswhich can accruefrom a workplace volunteerprogramme for the company,employees and the community;how to have such volunteerprogrammes coincidewith corporateobjectives; or approachesto encouragingservice among employees?
• Mightyour federationsof employersand of trades unionsat nationallevel be interestedin studyingthe potentialsof corporatevolunteering?
• Do you realisethat the Internet can be used to promote"virtual volunteering",that there are assignmentswhich volunteerscan usefullycarry out online,and that this approachis particularlywell suited to the needsof personswho are houseboundor havedisabilities?
• If your firm wereto considerbecoming involved in corporateor virtual volunteering,would there be waysin which some assistancefrom governmentwould help?Would you be willingto propose such help to governmentvia the NationalCommittee for IYV200 l?
• Wouldyou in any case undertaketo devotea proportionof the time of your managersand shopfloorstaff to some voluntaryactivity in the course of 200l? Haveyou your own ideas as to what that activity might be, or wouldyou welcomesuggestions from others? ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES
It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UN agencies,interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations,foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have thefollowing in common:
• that theyare 110t i111ended to be prescriptive: all partners hm 1e completefreedom to make useof the 11oteor to workup their ownguidance notes, as they wish
• that theyare by no 111ea11sexhaustive: UNV as focal poi11t for IY\' 2001 will 1varm01 welcomeadditions to them
• that,desirably, e1 1e1y11ational volunteer-based organisation, 11ational voluntary agency and eachGol'emment will seek to ensuremaximum impactof IYV 2001 by settingin traina processof exte11si11eco11sultation in 1999and 2000 amongthe membershipsof co11111wnity-basedand non-govermne11tal bodies, desig11ed to discoverwhat they wouldlike to see realised in 2001and beyond,in termsof thefour aimsof IYV -enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice
• similarly,that, in part11ershipwith the volu11teersector, e1 1ery Govemme11twould establisha nationalcommittee or co111missio11forIYV 2001, requesting it
( 1) to assistthat processof co11sultation
(2) to prepareandfacilitate an energeticprogramme of activitieslocall; 1 and nationallyduri11g 2001 a11d
(3) to make reco111111e11datio11sto the Gol'emment designed to enablerealisatio11 of the aims of IYV 2001in the country
• that IYV 2001is for a11dabout all ki11dsof volunteerse11erywhere: it is 1101limited to a11y011e category of 11olunteer,whether formal or informal;011goi11g or occasional; agency-based (i.e. worki11g side by side with employees) or all-volunteer; "domestic" or i11ternational;unremunerated or modestlyremunerated; based in a11industrialised, tra11sitio11 or developi11g country; and whetheri11 direct service, advocacy or administrativeand go11ema11ce(i.e. Board) posit ions
• that the co11cept~("volunteer" - and the terminology- d~tferfrom countryto countryand that, whilesome reflectionat 11ationallel'el may be desirableat the outsetto de}Lneor redefineit, this should1101 be allowedto distractparticipants from mou11tinga11 energetic programme of co11structh1e actiiiitieswhich bring together people a11d orga11isations possibly holding somewhatdWeri11g co11ceptions. Many types of activity J10!11ntari01 u11dertakenmay quahfy,even if thepeople doing them callthemselves by dWerentnames
• that ei•erycountry, organisation and group will 11ot0110• have its own age11da,i11 terms of what it can contributeto and wouldwish to securefrom JY\' 2001,but is actil'elyencouraged to do so -providedonly that this be accompaniedby a desire to co-operate( rather than compete)locally, natio11ally and globa/0• with others who are like-minded and alsowish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised.
• that IYV 200I shouldabol'e all make volunteering1•isible, advancing positil'e and dispellingnegative images of volunteers and whatthey do to see the aimsof the Yearrealised.
~ '-' Uni1e The first aim of lYV 2001 is that volunteers'service locally,nationally and internationallybe more recog nised as an importantpart of civil society.Some questions: • Havethe contributionsof volunteers- first andforemost, volunteers from your ownsociety - to welfareand developmentin your country been inventoried?:e.g. contributions to - emergencyrelief or civildefence, or to health and social welfareprovisions - facilitatinglocal development in your villagesand towns - conflictprevention and resolution,and peace-building,or to - promotionof respect for human rights and of democracy • A country study might be made, at Government,private or joint instigation, to describe and quantify such contributions.Have you a universityfaculty, research institute or Ministrywhich could undertake such a study? • Such a "report to the nation"on volunteerservice could go further,to indicate measureswhich Government and societymight take to enhanceand optimise those contributionsin the future • Majorstudies of this kind have been carried out in recentyears - particularlyin industrialisedcountries - by Governments,national statisticalbodies or universities.Can you accessthem? Would you welcomehelp to do so? • Hasyour country issued a nationalHuman Development Report, perhaps with the assistanceof the UNDevelopment Programme?Could the contributionof volunteerservice and voluntaryaction to your country'sdevelopment be an appropriate element of a future national HDR?( It has been suggested that the UNDP-authoredglobal Human DevelopmentReport for 2000or 200l might be partly based on such country studies). • If it is not alreadythe case,would it be relevantto designatea specificMinistry with responsibilityfor recognition and facilitationof volunteerservice and voluntaryaction, and to provideit with a budget to this end? • In what broad waysmight volunteerservice best be recognised - or further recognised- in your country in the courseof IYV200 I and beyond?Are there negativestereotypes to be addressed? • Tohonour activevolunteers, annual awardsmight be instituted for the best examplesof individual,small group, localcommunity and nationalNGO service and action.This couldextend to awardsfor excellencein the leadership and administrationof such work (e.g.transparency of reports and accounts),or in training or promotionalwork • Recognitionrequires visibility. To identify volunteer activity and make it visible,regular press columnsand radio and TVprogrammes might be soughtout whichwould be willingto profilevolunteers, volunteer service and voluntary action topics regularlyor in depth • It could be appropriateto draw the volunteersector into consultationin the establishmentof the nation'spolicies and priorities for such areas as health,education, culture, environment • Waysmight be sought in whichvolunteers and activistswho havemade an impactat locallevel could be enabledto expresstheir continuedcommitment by taking on higher or wider responsibilities:e.g. involving them in training newcomers,or placingthem in positionswhich give effect to policiesof"national execution". C, ENHANCEDFAClbITATION OFVOLUNTEER SERVICE The second and a key aim of IYV 2001 is that, for the greater good of society, volunteer service be more facilitated. Here the possibilities will vary from country to country.Measures to be taken should desirably respond to the felt needs of volunteers and their organisations;a further possible criterion is that they be feasiblefor Governmentto assist within its policies and budgets.The suggestions are but a small selection: • Politicalparties could feature in their manifestos,and Governmentsin their plans for their period in office,a commitmentto facilitatingthe growthand effectivefunctioning of volunteerservice and action.Parliament might be requestedto debate the matter from time to time in fullsession or via an appropriateparliamentary committee • Coalitionsmight be forgedbetween the publicand privatesector and foundationsin the country,to securefunding designedto put volunteerservice on a sounder footing • Publicservants mightbe accordedspecial leave of absencewith or withoutpay to undertakeperiods of volunteer servicewithin their country or internationally • Officialencouragement could be given to business and industry to facilitate"corporate volunteering", whereby employeesare enabledto render service,thus acquiring usefulskills and enablingthe companyto meet its social responsibilitiesand be seen to do so • The experienceof somecountries could be studied,whereby they exemptfrom certain taxesduly constituted and registeredvolunteer service organisations which undertaketo providea regularpublic report of their activitiesand of their incomeand expenditure • Similarly,othercountries' experience might be studied,where a measureof taxdeductibility is extendedto taxpaying individualsand companieswhich specifically fund volunteerservice • Radio and TV broadcastingcompanies could be encouragedto introducethe conceptof probono Public Service Announcementson behalfof volunteer-basedorganisations and activities • It may be noted that some countries have seen fit to introduce volunteerservice schemesof various kinds as acceptedalternatives to custodialsentences for crime or to militaryconscription • The Statemight put its training institutionsat the disposalof volunteerservices at concessionalrates. Workshops mightbe providedin volunteermanagement and to enhance the training of volunteers • Modulesabout workingwith volunteersmight be taught as part of the curriculumfor such professionsas social work,health and education • Organisationshaving a paid staff and seekingto involvelarge numbers of volunteerson an ongoingbasis might seek fundingto enablethem to createthe post of co-ordinatorof volunteers • The Statemight ensure that a percentageof the cement,roofing, timber etc.at the disposal of municipalor local authoritiesbe set aside and made availableconcessionally to duly registeredcommunity-based volunteer groups • The Statemight seek to ensurethat volunteersfrom duly constituted and recognisedbodies are affordedinsurance coverand socialwelfare protection on a par with conventionalworkers • / ... le~. \ \.~ J 2 0 0 1 ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES It was suggested that UNV,as focal point for the preparations for IYV 2001, issue a set of broad Guidance Notes to help all partners preparing for and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UN agencies, interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations,foundations or private sector companies. The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series, all of which have the following in common: • that theyare not intendedto beprescriptil'e: all partners have complete freedom to make useof the noteor to 1vorkup their ownguidance notes, as they wish • that theyare by 110111ea11s exhaustive: UN\' asfocalpoint for TY\'2001 will warmlywelcome additions to them • that,desirably, el'ery national volunteer-based organisation, national 1 10/u11taryagency and eachCol'en11nent will seek to ensuremaximum impactof JY\' 2001 by settingin traina processof exte11siveco11sultatio11 in 1999 and 2000 amongthe 111e111bershipsof community-based and non-go11e1w11e11talbodies, designed to disco11erwhat they wouldlike to see realised in 2001and beyond,in termsof thefour aimsof IY\' -enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice • similarly,that, in partnershipwith the 11olu11teersector, every Coven1111entwould establisha nationalcommitlee or co111111issionforl}'\12001, requesting it (I) to assistthat processof consultation (2) to prepareand facilitate an energeticprogramme o_{activities locally and nationallyduring 2001 and (3) to make reco111111endationsto the Co1•er,1mentdesigned to enablerealisation of the aims of lY\' 2001 in the country • that TY\'2001 is.for and aboutall kinds o_{ 110/1111teers e1•erywhere: it is not limitedto any onecategory of voluntee1;whether formal or ii formal;ongoi11gorocrnsional; agemy-based (i.e. working side by side withemployees) or all-volunteer; "domestic" or intematio11al;u11re111u11erated or 111odestly re1111111erated; basedin an industrialised,tra11sitio11 or del'eloping country; and whetherin directsen•ice, advocacy or administrativeand govemance(i.e. Board) positions • that the concepto_{"vol1111teer" - and the terminology- differfrom countryto countryand that, ll'hilesome reflectio11at 11atio11alle1•el may be desirableat the outsetto dejineor redefineit, thisshould 1101 be allowedto distractparticipa111sfro111 mo11nti11g<111energetic programme of co11structil•eactivities which bri11g together people and orga11isatio11spossibly holding somewhatdiffering co11ceptions. Many types of acril'ityFolu11tarily undertake,, may qualify,el'etI if the peopledoi11g the111 callthemselves by differentnames • that e1•e1ycow1tr;; orga11isatio11 and groupwill 11ot011/y hal'e its 011'11 age11da,in termso_( what it rnn contributeto and wouldwish to securefrom f)'V 200I, but is actil'elyencouraged to do so -pro11ided0110 1 that this be acco111paniedby a desire to co-operate( rather than compete)locally, 11atio11al0 1 andgloba/0• with otherswho are like-111i11ded a11d also wish to seethe aims of the }'earrealised. • that IYV 2001should abol'e all make vo/1111teeri11g1•isible, adw111cing positive and dispellingnegatil'e i111ages of volunteers and whatthey do to see the aimsof the )'earrealised. \: ) l nitcJ rs:atmn, Volunteer, ~/99 - f) ENHANCEDNETWORKING OFVOLUNTEER SERVICE The third declaredaim ofIYV 2001 is to increase greatlythe extent to which the myriadsuccessful achieve ments of volunteersare networked to other volunteersand groups also workingfor welfareand development. Systematicsharing of experiencecan avoid the need for other local groups,other communities,other nations even,to "reinventthe wheel".Some waysin which this can be done effectivelyand which could be a significant componentof the Yearare set out below: • A universityor researchinstitute might be invited to design a national programmefor systematicoral, written, illustrated,debated, exhibited and electronicallycommunicated networking of successfulsmall-scale economic and socialinitiatives undertaken voluntarily • Everylocal community,every village,every successfuldevelopment initiative, might be invited to appoint a "raconteur"- a volunteerfrom amongthe communitywho can speak or write of"Howwe did it". Theseraconteurs couldbe enabledto cometogether at district,provincial or nationallevel to exchangetheir experiences,techniques, designsetc with the assistanceof facilitatorsversed in employment-creation,income-generation, conflict resolution, etc.as appropriate • Orally,radio programmes and street theatre(since both haveenormous potential for dissemination of information) might be promotedon the "Howwe did it" theme. A regularTV programmecould permit illustrationof the results and products,the processesand the techniquesin action • In print, a regularnewspaper column, a publishednewsletter, an academicjournal, pamphletsand flyerscan be devotedto the same theme • Schools,colleges, universities and communitycentres might be invitedto becomeresource centres for holdingand disseminatingsuch information.Ministries and universitiesmight encourage,enable and to the extentfeasible fund nationalEmail networks, "chat rooms","bulletin boards" etc. • Bilateraland multilateralaid agencies,foundations and privatesector companies could fund nationaland regional workshops,action projects,"markets" and the like in which volunteersand their groups can exchangedesigns, techniquesand experienceand displaytheir wares.Such experience could be made known to and be publishedby one or more of the major worldwideINGOs disseminating such information • Each NationalCommittee might set up a websitefor the duration of IYV2001 and there maintain a log of all national IYVactivities. It could identifyand publish a list of volunteer-relevantwebsites in the country.And the websitemight be linkedto sitesoutside the countrywhich carry informationuseful to volunteerleadership anywhere • Everyencouragement could be givenby UNAgencies, Governments, universities etc to volunteerbodies to establish ongoingInternet websites,to publish their experiencesin this way,and to link themselveswith internationaland globalwebsites specialising in this kind of material • Individualvolunteers and their organisationsare stronglyencouraged to share their thoughtson the interactive IYV2001 website - http://www.iyv2001.org / ... I•/-~· \ \ : \:;,. .d ~ 2 0 0 1 ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001, issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments,UN agencies,interna tional and national NGOsor community-based organisations,foundations or private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have thefollowing in common: • that theyare 1101 illlended to beprescriptive: all partners have complete freedom to make useof the 11oteor to workup their ow,,guida11ce notes, as they wish • that theyare by 110means exhaustive: UNV as focal point for !YV 200I will warmlywelcome additions to them • that,desirably, every 11atio11al 11olu11teer-based organisation, 1111tio11al volu11tary agency a11d each Government will seek to ensuremaximum impactof JYV 2001by setti11gi11 train a processof exte11si11econsultation in 1999and 2000amo11g the membershipsof co11111wnity-basedand 11011-govcrn111e11tal bodies,designed to discoverwhat they wouldlike to see realised in 2001a11d beyond, i11 terms of thefourai111s of TY\!- enhancedrecognition,facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice • similarly,that, in partnershipwith the 11ol1111teersector, every Go11crnme11twould establisha 11atio11alcommittee or co111111issio11for I Y\! 200I, requesti11git ( 1) to assistthat process of co11sultation (2) to preparea11d facilitate an energeticprogramme of actii•itieslocally and 11atio11allyduring 2001 and (3) to make recomme11datio11sto the Governmentdesigned to enablerealisation of the ai111sof IY\' 200I in the country • that IYV 2001is for a11dabout all kinds of volunteerse1 1e1ywhere:it is 1101limited to any one categoryof 11olu11tee1;whether formal ori1~formal; 011goi11gor occasional; agency-based (i.e. worki11g side by sidewith employees) or all-11olu11teer; "domestic" or international;u11re111u11erated or 111odest01 rem1111erated; based i11 an industrialised,tm11sitio11 or developing country; and whetherin directservice, ad1 1ocacyor administrativeand governance(i.e. Board) positions • that the conceptof "11olu11teer"- a11d the ter111i110/ogy- differ from co111111yto cow111y and that, whilesome rejlectio11at nationallevel may be desirableat the outsetto de_fi11eor redefine it, thisshould 1101 be allowedto distractparticipants from mountingan energeticprogramme of constructii1e activitieswhich bring together people and organisationspossib0 1 holding somewhatd[ffering conceptions. Afony types of activity1•oluntari0 1 undertakenmay qualify,even [f the peopledoing them callthemseh 1es by differentnames • that e11erycountry, organisation and group will not 011lyhave its own agenda,in termsof what it can contributeto and wouldwish to securefrom I Y\' 200I, but is acti11e0'encouraged to do so -providedonly that this be accompaniedby a desire to co-operate( rather than compete)locally, nationally and global0· with others who are like-111i11ded and alsowish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised. • that IYV 200I shouldabove all make volu11teeri11g11isible, ad11a11cing positfre and dispellingnegative images of volunteers a11dwhat they do to see the aims of the Yearrealised. l Lrrncu Nauon, Voluntcc"' ':./99 ENHANCEDPROMOTION OFVOLUNTEER SERVICE (fr~~ 2 0 0 1 Enhancedpromotion of volunteerservice is the fourthof the fouraims of IYV2001. The promotionshould be geared to creating a climate of public and official opinion more understandingof and more sympathetic to voluntaryaction in general and volunteerservice in particular.Amongst the desirableoutcomes are that more needs of society will be seen as susceptibleof assistance from volunteers;that more schoolchildrenand youth,career men and women and retireeswill feel encouragedto offer service as volunteers;and that meas ures will be taken and resourcesmade availableto "marry"those offers to the needs and opportunities. • Desirably,the promotionaleffort - should be based on what volunteersare doing and achievingindividually and in groups,here and now - wouldstress the competenceand professionalismas wellas the humanitarianismof the volunteersinvolved - wouldaim in part at attracting new requestsfor assignmentof volunteersto addressspecific needs - would attract offersof servicefrom new volunteersand activists • The attentionof the generalpublic may be drawn to the benefitsto the vulnerablein particularand to societyin generalwhich Sow from the specificactivity • What about putting togethera photohistory of volunteeringin your country? • What about one big all-volunteers-togetherevent for IYV200 I, photographedfrom the air? • It willbe particularlyeffective if prominentfigures are seen to be renderingvolunteer service in JYV200 l, above and beyondtheir official roles or outsidethe fieldsin whichthey are famous.For example the Headof State,Ministers and other politicians,cultural figuressuch as actors,singers, film stars, pop musicians,athletes • Nationaland local authorities,local communities and neighbourhoods,and voluntaryorganisations might use IYV2001 to stimulate creativity and vision in developingmore innovativeand worthwhileassignments for volunteers,and to seek waysof strengtheningpublicity for the need for volunteersto carry out those assignments • Withthe valueof suchactivity thus demonstrated,part of the promotionaleffort might also be aimed at attracting new financialor other resourcesfrom Government,foundations, the privatesector and externalsources, designed to expandthe scope and contributionof volunteerservice • Onelasting educationalprogramme might be plannedto remain after 200I: say,an annual volunteerleadership conference,a book on the basics of volunteerleadership, opportunities for teenagers to learn in school about volunteering,an interactivewebsite, a universitycourse • The case might be consideredfor setting up a nationalvolunteer centre with the task of promotingvolunteer servicebeyond IYV 2001 and of maintainingan impetusfor recognising,facilitating and networkingit • There mightbe a commitmentto markingInternational Volunteer Day on Dec.5 each year. UNVhas prepareda document"clustering"hundreds of promotionalactivities. They are drawnfrom the reports of how International VolunteerDay has been markedsince 1985.The activities may prove relevantto promotionalefforts in IYV2001. "Yes,but whatwill we do?"isobtainable in hard copy from TeamIYV 2001, c/o UNVin Bonn;it is also accessibleon the IYVWebsite- http: / / www.iyv2001. or g ABOUTTHE IYV 2001 GUIDANCENOTES It was suggestedthat UNV,as focal point for the preparationsfor IYV 2001,issue a set of broad GuidanceNotes to help all partners preparingfor and participating in the Year,whether they be Governments, UNagencies, interna tional and national NGOsor community-based orga11isations,foundationsor private sector companies.The note on the reverseside of this sheet is one of a series,all of which have thefollowing in common: • that theyare 1101 i11te11ded to be prescriptil'e: all partners have complete freedom to makeuse of the 110/eor to 1vorkup their ow11guidance notes, as they wish • that they areby 110mealls exhaustii 1e: UN\fasfocal point for IYV 2001 will warmlywelcome additions to them • that,desirably, every llatio1111l l'olu11teer-based 01gallis11tio11, 11atio11al volu11tary agellcy and eachGovenrme111 will seek to ellsuremaximum impactof !YV 2001by settingi11 traill a process~(extellsive collsultatio11 in 1999and 2000among the memberships~(commu11ity-based alld 11oll-go1wllme11talbodies, desiglled to discoverwhat they wouldlike to seerealised i112001alld beyond, in termsof thefo11raims of ff V - enhancedrecognition,faci/itation, networking and promotion of volunteerservice • similar0•,that, ill partllershipwith the vo/1111/eersecto,; el'ery Gvvemmelltwould establish a nationalcommittee or commissiollforfY\' 2001,requesti11g it ( 1) to assistthat processof co11sultatio11 (2) to prepare111ul Ji1cilitate all energeticprogm111me ~{actil'ities locally and nationa/0•durillg 2001 alld (3) to make reco111111endatio11sto the Government designed to ellablerealisation of the aims of IY\' 2001ill the cow1t1y • that I Y\' 2001is for a11dabout all kinds of l'Oiu11teerseve,ywhere: it is 1101limited to any 011ecatego,y of 110/u11tee1;whether formal or itfonnnl;011goi11g oroccasio11al; agenl)'-based (i.e. 1vorki11g side by side 1vithemployees) or all-1 10/u11teer;"domestic" or international;u11re1111111erated or 111odest0• remunerated; based in a11industrialised, transit io11 or developillgco1111try; a11d whetherin directservice, acfrocal)' or admi11istmtit1e and govenrallce(i.e. Board) positions • that the conceptof "volunteer"- a11dthe ter111i110/ogy- differ.fi'Oln country to co1111tryand that, ll'hilesome rejlectio11at 11atio11al/e,,el may be desirableat the outsetto d~fi11eor red~fi11eit, this should110/ be allowedto distractparticipants from 1110w11ingm1energetic progra111111e ofco11structil'e activities which bring together people and orga11isatio11spossibly holding somewhatdiffering co11ceptio11s. Many typesof activity 110l11ntarily1111dertake11 ,nay qualify,e1 1e11[f the peopledoing them callthemselves by dijlere11111a111es • that eve,y co1111t1y,01ga11isatio11 and group will 11ot0110 1 hm1e its own agenda,in termsof what it can contributeto a11d wouldwish to securefrom I }'V2001, but is acti11elyencouraged to do so -pro11ided0110' that this be accompaniedby a desire to co-operate(rather th1111 compete) loca/9 1, 11atio11ally1111d globaf 0 1 with otherswho are like-minded and alsowish to seethe aims of the Yearrealised. • that fY\' 2001should abo1 1e all make 110/1111teeri11gl'isib/e, advancing positive a11d dispelling negative images of volu11teers and whatthey do to see the aimsof the Yearrealised. \. L niled Nauons Volunlccr, ~/99