“The motivation shown by the volunteers can be summed up in one word: SHARING. They share their time, skills and talents and human experience . They know that the true measure of success in life is not what they gain but what they give back to the communities.” -Kofi Annan, Secretary General of United Nations

With the advent of new technologies in almost all parts of the globe, voluntary organizations face the necessity of shifting their paradigms. There is an urgent need for the right people and the required skills to cope with the changes taking place every minute of our lives. There is a need for a new governance, new approaches and a new working atmosphere for all the volunteers. These are the issues that need to be addressed globally and implemented locally with due consideration of existing patterns in the local communities.

Why International Year of Volunteers?

Volunteer service has been a part of virtually every civilization and society. Defined in the broadest term as the contribution that individuals make as non-profit, non-wage and non-career action for the well-being of their neighbours, community or society at large, it takes many forms, from traditional customs of mutual self-help to community coping responses in times of crisis, and spearheading effort for relief, conflict resolution and the eradication of poverty. The scope of the year 2001 will extend beyond local and national volunteers to include bilateral and multilateral volunteer programmes extending beyond national borders.

Volunteers contribute significantly to the welfare and progress of industrialized and developing countries and within national and United Nations programmes of humanitarian assistance, technical cooperation and promotion of human rights, democratization and peace. Voluntary service is an important factor supporting the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), professional associations, trade unions, civic organizations, faith groups and increasingly the private sector. It is also an effective mechanism for the active involvement in society of youth and older people.

However, while the contribution of volunteers is vast, much of their work often goes unrecognized precisely because it does not involve the payment of market wages and because it is often spontaneous, informal and unstructured.

Objectives of IYV 2001

The premise underlying the designation of an International year of Volunteers by the UN General Assembly is that it provides a valuable framework and establishes a favourable environment for the growth and yet more strategic use of volunteer contributions .

• To increase recognition of the efforts of individuals and groups engaged in volunteering

• To increase facilitation of volunteer work by building on factors which encourage , and addressing issues which inhibit volunteer service

• To enhance networking whereby volunteer achievements can be disseminated and shared.

• To promote volunteering with a view to more requests for the deployment of volunteers and to offers of volunteer service from even more individuals

The IYV 2001 is a unique opportunity to further strengthen partnerships between volunteer groups throughout the world. Volunteerism is an extremely noble deed and all over the world people share their time and expertise to achieve a common goal: to be of service to others.