by Chiponda Chimbelu

18 October 2010

Victoria, Seychelles: Earlier this year, the President of the Seychelles, James Michel, created the National Committee on Volunteering (NCV) to promote volunteerism, and advise the government on how volunteerism can be promoted in the island nation. NCV, which includes representatives from the National Youth Council, communities and churches, and the elderly, comes at a pivotal time. Next year, 2011 marks the tenth anniversary of the UN International Year of Volunteers (IYV) in 2001. And events to highlight the significance of volunteerism are set to take place all over the world.

Therefore, NCV will promote volunteerism among all sections of the population, by mobilizing institutions like schools and the police force, so that everyone can contribute to development. Also, it will enhance the effectiveness of volunteerism to complement government driven development, and promote the spirit of sharing and giving something back to society. Finally, it will mobilise NGO groups to focus efforts on issues of national concern while enhancing the partnership between the NGO sector and government.

In august, there was a session on volunteering organized by the National Committee on Volunteering and launched by the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vincent Meriton. Two volunteers from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Africa’s least populous nation (with just 85,000 inhabitants) were invited to take part.

“It was a good experience. I felt that our contribution as volunteers in the country is recognized, and that the country is putting in place mechanisms that would allow us to work in a very conducive environment,” says international UNV volunteer Jacques Sindayigaya. Jacques is an HIV&AIDS Technical Advisor at UNDP/UNAIDS, and his colleague Elisa Arnulfo is a UNV volunteer in the GEF Small Grants Programme.

“Elisa and myself were introduced to high ranking officers including the Minister of Development, and we could see that promoting volunteerism is really on the country’s agenda,” Jacques added.

Both Jacques and Elisa were able to share their experiences about how they became UNV volunteers. Elisa joined UNV through the UNV internship programme sponsored by the Italian government. And the two UNV volunteers are still volunteering in their free time in the Seychelles. Jacques, a former scout leader is assisting the Seychelles Scout Association on the improvement of its youth program and its adult resources management.

“Also, I am assisting the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) 2011 International Year of Volunteers (IYV) Plan of Action," said Elisa.

Elisa will not get to experience all of 2011 in the Seychelles. Nevertheless, both she and Jacques are contributing to the current evolution of volunteerism in the country through their efforts in the UN system and their own voluntary action at the Seychelles Scout Association and the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS).