26 November 2008

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a chance for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote their contributions to development at local, national and international levels. By merging UN support with a grassroots mandate, IVD is a unique opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations to work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and the private sector.

IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on 5 December.

International Volunteer Day: A focus on partnership and development

Through the years, IVD has been used strategically: many countries have focused on volunteers’ contributions to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of time-bound targets to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.

The organization of IVD is generally the result of a partnership between the UN system, governments, volunteer-involving organizations, and committed individuals.  Representatives from the media or academia, foundations, the private sector, faith groups, and sports and recreational organizations are often involved too. 

The International Year of Volunteers: From 2001 to 2011

Following a proposal of the Government of Japan to the United Nations Secretary General, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2001 the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) in its 52nd session on 20 November 1997. Resolution 52/17 was co-sponsored by 123 countries. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme was designated as focal point for the Year within the UN system. The year led to a better appreciation of the power of volunteerism in its many forms and the ways to support it.

The UN General Assembly is now supporting the 10th anniversary of IYV to be marked in 2011. A chance to build on the momentum created by IYV 2001, this year's IVD is thus an excellent moment to reflect on what the 10th anniversary might achieve for volunteer-involving organizations, and of course volunteers themselves.

How to get involved in IVD 

The World Volunteer Web – the global focal point for the IVD campaign – hosts a range of IVD-related tools and resources.

Plan your event: Learn from best practices and lessons from past IVDs. Starting with advice on forming or joining IVD planning committees, find steps to develop a national theme, plan activities, produce promotional materials, develop a media strategy and document outcomes.

Ideas on what to do for the Day: Advice on how to integrate the MDGs, information on promotional tools and guidance on downloading and modifying the IVD emblem and poster.  

Network: Directory of national focal points connecting individual volunteers to a country’s IVD committee. You can initiate a committee in your country if none exists now. 

Report back:  Your reports enable organizers, volunteers and World Volunteer Web readers to capture the wealth of activities undertaken around IVD. This information exchange helps furthering the value of volunteering for development.

Find out more at www.worldvolunteerweb.org