02 December 2002

Breaking new ground, the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) joined forces with the Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO) to mobilize and train thousands of volunteers to assist with virtually every aspect of planning and logistics at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Three South African UN Volunteers supported the WSSD volunteer programme. Bonga Maphalala, who holds a Ph.D. in finance, handled the programme's finances. Sibusiso Masuku and Nokwanda Dambuza, who have degrees in human resources and journalism respectively, were responsible for the recruitment, training, placement and coordination of all the volunteers.

"This is the first time that the United Nations has involved volunteers in such numbers to help implement a UN event," says UNV Executive Coordinator Sharon Capeling-Alakija. Dressed in colourful, locally-produced uniforms, the volunteers interacted directly with the delegates in the various venues of the summit and places of logistical importance - the airport, hotels, the Civil Society Forum, the main exhibit area at Ubuntu Village, information kiosks, the immigration help desk, call centres and translation services.

In order to draw in potential volunteers from throughout South African society, the UN Volunteers conducted presentations and workshops on volunteering opportunities during WSSD at companies, universities, townships and churches. They were also interviewed on several television and radio programmes.

As a result, 17,000 applicants ranging from business executives to the unskilled and unemployed expressed interest. Five thousand were initially selected for training as JOWSCO volunteers; of these, some 2,800 supported the summit. Sixty per cent of the volunteers were women.

For the JOWSCO volunteers and their UNV coordinators, the initiative is widely seen as a success to build on.

"The response was tremendous," says Nokwanda, who noted that people had been enthusiastic about getting a chance to volunteer. "It is encouraging to know that we were able to make a difference in people's lives. We have received several calls from different volunteers who were grateful to us for giving them a chance to experience volunteerism. Many of them thought that volunteers are only unemployed people with nothing else to do. Now they understand that volunteering is making a difference in one's country. As a result, we are hoping to have more volunteers in South Africa."

According to Sibusiso, the "spirit of volunteering was high" during the summit. "Most of the volunteers vowed that from now on they will avail themselves on a voluntary basis in their respective communities."

The UNV team also gained valuable experience from the volunteer recruitment and deployment exercise. Carrying their work beyond WSSD, they have begun compiling reports on their experiences as well as a manual for use in mobilizing volunteers for future UN conferences and summits. On a more personal level, the three volunteers also gained something. "We have learned to deal with masses of people from different backgrounds… also to be more tolerant and understanding towards them considering that the majority had never volunteered before," noted Nokwanda. Her most memorable moment came while conducting training with mentally challenged volunteers who were responsible for packing the delegates' bags. "Even though it was slow we managed to finish the training within the allotted two days," she says, adding that she appreciated being able to contribute her time to assist these volunteers.

The UNV Programme Officer in South Africa, Akua Dua-Agyeman, believes this initiative could pave the way for more conference volunteer engagement with the support of UNV. "I think UNV's involvement with JOWSCO in mobilizing volunteers for such events was laudable and must be encouraged wherever feasible. The partnership with JOWSCO has laid a foundation for future collaboration (for other large-scale events) in South Africa."

Volunteering in South Africa has taken on special significance this year. President Thabo Mbeki declared 2002 the National Year of the Volunteer for Reconstruction and Development in South Africa. Each month has been dedicated to themes such as education, health and youth. In addition, government officials volunteer each month in local communities around the country.

Volunteerism: spreading the word at WSSD As volunteers made their presence felt on the floors of WSSD venues, volunteerism made an impact on summit sessions and in summary documents.

In a statement circulated to WSSD delegates, Ms. Capeling-Alakija pointed out that unobserved acts of generosity and heroism are taking place in countless places around the globe, from transporting safe water from distant wells to caring for children in need. "But the fact that good deeds grow in the wild does not free us from the obligation to cultivate them," she noted. "Like the other cornerstones of sustainable development, voluntary action must be studied, understood, planned for, and facilitated. The barriers that impede volunteerism must be identified and moved out of the way. The value of volunteer efforts needs to be measured, documented and communicated."

Together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and with the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), UNV hosted a panel discussion on community involvement and volunteering. South Africa's Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya, acknowledged the important role volunteers play in tackling problems facing his country, most notably the HIV/AIDS epidemic and widespread poverty. The Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Zéphirin Diabré, noted that informal mutual aid and self-help or formal service volunteerism contributed to "almost every area" of development. Representing the Inter-Parliamentary Union Council, Dr. Najma Heptulla recommended that parliaments involve and encourage volunteer activities in all sectors of society and incorporate volunteerism in their planning activities. The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Juan Manuel Suarez del Toro Rivero, urged governments to "build effective partnership with voluntary organizations, and include them in discussions around development". Reflecting on the role of the private sector in promoting volunteer activity, Jane Nelson of the International Business Leaders Forum recommended that businesses contribute their knowledge and skills, donate products, carry out social marketing and give back a percentage of their profits to the communities in which they work.

And for the first time, volunteerism is mentioned explicitly in Earth Summit documentation. The WSSD Plan of Implementation specifically notes, in paragraph 150, the importance of major groups in achieving sustainable development. Stakeholders were encouraged to: "Enhance partnerships between governmental and non-governmental actors, including all major groups, as well as volunteer groups, on programmes and activities for the achievement of sustainable development at all levels." In addition, paragraph 116 calls for a "wide range of formal and non-formal continuing educational opportunities, including volunteer community service programmes, in order to end illiteracy and emphasize the importance of lifelong learning and promote sustainable development".