International Year of Volunteers 2001
31 July 2000 at 1:07 pm
There can hardly be a nation without volunteers! That’s the thinking that has led the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers.
The aim is that more people everywhere will offer their services as volunteers and that volunteer programs receive increased resources and facilities.
But this International Year of Volunteers is not just about talking up volunteering in 2001…there’s work to be done now. The first thing to do is logon to the web site and register your organisation as wanting to get involved. Go to www.iyv2001.org. The site has everything to get started, what to do, guidance notes and news of what everyone else is doing around the world.
The UN Volunteer program is coordinating the preparations and activities from its Bonn headquarters. The web site is very easy to use and it operates country by country.
Australia has already registered 55 volunteer opportunities and 29 partner organisations. There are already a number of volunteer events listed including a school poster competition campaign in Canberra and an international Volunteering Conference in Melbourne in October in the lead up to 2001.
The Federal Government has designated the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, Community Branch as the coordinating body and focal point for IYV 2001 activities in Australia.
