On Volunteer Day, UN Officials Celebrate ‘Great Reserve Of Energy And Initiative’
Communities should harness the energy and initiative of the thousands of volunteers who contribute to projects around
the world, including critical United Nations activities, senior UN officials said today as they marked the day dedicated
to those who give their time and efforts for free to help others.
“The altruistic spirit of volunteerism is immense and renewable,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message
released for International Volunteer Day, which has been observed by the UN and civil society on 5 December every year
starting in 1986.
Mr. Ban noted that many people have called for extra resources to combat some of the greatest problems facing the world
today, such as the turmoil in financial markets, climate change and steeply rising food and fuel prices.
“Rarely, however, is volunteerism fully recognized as a potentially vast and powerful resource to engage people in the
pursuit of peace and development,” he said, urging “all members of our global community to tap this great reserve of
energy and initiative.”
UN Volunteers (UNV) deploys about 7,500 people in 140 countries every year to support national development efforts, and
the programme’s Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri said the work of volunteers is being increasingly recognized and
supported around the world.
Today UNV is launching an online volunteering service – which brings together hundreds of development organizations and
thousands of volunteers who would otherwise have time or physical constraints from participating – in French and Spanish
and re-launching an upgraded version in English.
“Online volunteers have contributed to environmental projects in Africa, human rights in Asia, youth education in Latin
America, and community work worldwide,” Ms. Pansieri said in a statement.
“Online volunteering promotes social inclusion and contributes in a very tangible way to the work of development
organizations and communities facing some of the toughest challenges of our time.”
UNV volunteers often work closely with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and that agency’s Administrator Kemal Dervis
highlighted their joint efforts to improve conditions in countries emerging from disaster or conflict by rebuilding
infrastructure, promoting democratic governance and engaging marginalized or vulnerable groups, such as women and youth.
“Working with local authorities and communities, UNV volunteers ensure that governance is grounded in the principles of
human rights, access to justice, inclusion and gender equality,” he said.
Around the world volunteers are holding events this week to mark the Day: in Haiti, a school damaged by hurricanes is
being rehabilitated; in Sudan, doctors and dentists are providing free medical consultations; in Kazakhstan, children in
orphanages and hospitals are receiving “clown therapy”; and in Indonesia, new mangroves are being planted.
ENDS