by Dang Thu Thuy

09 June 2010

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: Opinion leaders have met in Viet Nam for the country's first national conference on volunteerism for development.

The conference aimed to enhance visibility of the work of volunteers and their contributions to socio-economic development in Viet Nam.  Organized by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) in partnership with the United Nations in Viet Nam, it was held on June 7 in Ha Noi.

Other objectives were to promote a common vision of the role of volunteerism in the achievement of national development goals and identify concrete initiatives promoting volunteerism for development; and to promote and facilitate coordination and networking between volunteering involving organizations, Government institutions, NGOs and other organizations.

The event was part of the Strengthening Capacity of Volunteerism for Development in Viet Nam (VDVN) project. The three-year UN-funded project is implemented by the central committee of  Ho Chi Minh Youth Union Viet Nam in partnership with UNV and UNDP.

The conference was co-chaired by Vo Van Thuong, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the National Project Director of the VDVN project, plus UNDP Deputy Country Director Barnaby Jones. Around 150 participants from Government, UN agencies, international and national volunteer involving organizations and volunteers attended.
   
In the morning session, volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs) offered five thematic presentations. These included sessions on the role of volunteerism in disaster risk reduction by the Viet Nam Red Cross; environmental protection by SJ Vietnam; social development by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; health and education by Voluntary Services Overseas; and economic development and job creation by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

The intensive group discussions on these five thematic issues brought about some statements and recommendations for policies and practices on volunteerism for development. Delegates saw that volunteerism plays an important role in the socio-economic development in Viet Nam, and that it is necessary to develop a national volunteer resource information centre. This would help transfer the need for participatory activities from the community to VIOs and the need for volunteers from VIOs to the community.

Another insight was that volunteers should be provided with skills training, so that the quality of volunteerism could be improved. It was judged essential for Viet Nam to enhance cooperation with international VIOs, helping improve the effectiveness of international volunteers in Viet Nam as well as improving information and resource sharing.

Based on the scattered regulations on volunteerism currently available, a comprehensive policy on volunteerism should be developed and submitted to the Government in the near future.