A UNEP poster advocating voluntary action against climate change, in coordination with IVA. (UNEP)A UNEP poster advocating voluntary action against climate change, in coordination with IVA. (UNEP)Bruna Bruno, a national UNV volunteer at Brazil’s Institute for Volunteer Action (IVA), is working on a project aimed at expanding the use of a volunteering portal the NGO has developed. (UNV)

Bruna Bruno, a national UNV volunteer at the Institute for Volunteer Action (IVA) in the south of the country, is working on a project aimed at expanding the use of a volunteering portal the NGO has developed.

"Brazil does not have a history of international campaigns being disseminated by the media," Ms. Bruno points out, and IVA thus considered it important to launch an online environmental awareness-raising campaign. The aim is to stimulate civil society to join forces and assume responsibility for environmental preservation, and to increase knowledge about the negative impacts our daily behaviour can have.

As part of her assignment, which includes managing and monitoring the volunteering portal, expanding its use and providing training to other volunteer centres, Bruna Bruno has been deeply involved in the organization of the campaign. It began in late May and will go on until 12 June.

Through the IVA’s volunteering portal (www.voluntariosonline.org.br), 297 online volunteers have helped her in its development. The online volunteers have been involved in the research, production, translation and distribution of World Environment Day promotional posters and banners from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and the dissemination of examples of innovative actions and good practices.

"The campaign has not only engaged volunteers to spread the materials, but also encouraged them to adopt the good practices being promoted," explains Ms. Bruno. "These include planting trees, using public instead of private transport, and reducing the use of energy, among others."

IVA’s portal provides information about UNEP’s 'Plant for the Planet' campaign, which will be available on the website until the end of the year. It also participates in the 'Twitter for Trees' campaign, and has created an awareness-raising network through Orkut, a social networking website.

Another IVA campaign is also in place to honour online volunteers. All volunteers are invited to record a short video with their name, volunteer assignment and link to World Environment Day or any other environmental campaign. IVA will edit the material received and produce a video to be posted on YouTube.

IVA’s online volunteering portal is supported by UNV, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), allowing volunteers to find opportunities for volunteering with host organizations in Brazil or online.