05 August 2003

Jakarta, Indonesia: In order to develop volunteerism and enhance the capacity of volunteers in Indonesia, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia and the United Nations Volunteers/United Nations Development Programme (UNV/UNDP), with support from national and international volunteer organizations, have established the Volunteer Development Centre (VDC).

The Centre was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Jacob Nuwa Wea, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration and Mr. Bo Asplund, UNDP Resident Representative in Indonesia.

In addition to providing information about volunteers and volunteerism, the VDC will serve as a forum for the exchange of information, knowledge, skills and expertise among volunteers, volunteer organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

The Centre will also provide support for the capacity building of volunteers and volunteer-based organizations and facilitate participation by the general public through outreach activities. It is expected that the presence of the Centre will further enhance collaboration between the government, national and international volunteer organizations, donors, the private sector, the media and the civil society in the social economic development of the society through voluntary works.

“I need to emphasize to all of you that this Centre is not the property of the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration only,” highlighted Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea in the opening remarks. Mr. Nuwa Wea maintained that VDC belonged to all volunteer stakeholders and he invited all people to utilize the Center and maintain it as a valuable asset of the country.

The Minister further expressed his hope that the UNV and UNDP provide more support to the ministry in the development of voluntary programmes and volunteer deployment in the future.

Mr. Bo Asplund, UNDP Resident Representative, explained in his remarks that through the Centre a series of concrete activities would be developed; among others are the conduct of workshops and trainings for volunteers, an interactive database, a web-based volunteer application system, and the facilitation of a volunteer network, linking the Centre and Indonesian volunteers to the global movement.

“We welcome the creation of the new national Volunteer Development Centre as the physical embodiment of the joint commitments of the Government and the United Nations in pursuing Indonesian national development goals,” said Mr. Bo Asplund. “With the initiatives and activities developed, we trust that the Centre will contribute to the ideals and spirit of volunteerism throughout Indonesia, raising awareness as to the value of private and public voluntary activities in human development.”