by Ad de Raad

05 December 2003

Bonn, Germany: Every 5 December since 1985, people in countries around the world have celebrated volunteerism and recognized the crucial work of volunteer involving organizations and individual volunteers at local, national and international levels. Over the years, rallies, parades, community volunteering projects, environmental awareness, free medical care and speeches by high-ranking government officials have all featured prominently on International Volunteer Day (IVD). The largest celebration took place in 2001 at the close of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) in over 100 countries. To many, that seemed to be the pinnacle. But don’t be deceived: volunteers of all ages, races and cultures, are still climbing.

The critical question is, however, what happens on 6 December? Newspapers may turn their attention elsewhere and sound bites may fade away, but the work of volunteers goes on with or without publicity and well-deserved recognition. The spirit of IVD must live on as well. In its 2001 resolution (57/106), the United Nations General Assembly called on “governments, with the active support of the media, civil society and the private sector, to observe 5 December, IVD, and to include activities focused on following-up on the
achievements of IYV”.

Encouraging more people to volunteer is a 365-days-a-year task. If you consider the committed work of volunteers of all ages around the globe, carrying out every imaginable kind of activity, IVD should be a day that never ends. Indeed, it cannot end, as the need for volunteers is greater than ever. For example, to curb a recent polio scare, hundreds of thousands of volunteers and health workers carried out a blanket immunization campaign targeting 15 million children in the West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger and Togo. Without huge contingents of volunteers, a vital campaign of this magnitude would stand no chance.

The mass involvement of volunteers in this campaign illustrates the importance of coordinating efforts and building alliances. To continue making meaningful contributions in today’s world, including towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), volunteer effort needs to be recognized and supported. Collectively, we still have much to do: complete and compile studies of national volunteerism, advance proposals for pro-volunteer legislation and strengthen a global volunteer network. One place we can now turn to share this information is the WorldVolunteerWeb.org information portal on volunteering launched one year ago today in place of the IYV web site. Support this with your documents and suggestions. It belongs to all of us.

To us, who work for the UN Volunteers programme, International Volunteer Day feels very different this year, without Sharon Capeling-Alakija, our former Executive Coordinator, who sadly passed away on November 4th, after a long and courageous battle against cancer. We will continue to support IVD, building upon the platform and legacy left behind by Sharon. Her commitment to volunteerism, in all of its diversity has left an indelible impression with all of us. She would have been the first person to remind us that IVD celebrations do not end at the stroke of midnight, but that International Volunteer Day is about highlighting the continuous contributions of volunteers in society and the immense benefits we derive from these activities. Around the world. Every day.