Making distinctive contributions

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SYEA JOB FAIR Volunteer for Development
Enhance your personal and professional
skillsBy Signe EjerskovUNV Programme Officer
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What is Volunteerism?

• Based on free will, commitment, engagement and
  solidarity
• A capacity development concept transferring
  knowledge
• Rooted in civil society a participatory
  approach
• Demand-driven based on local needs and
  ownership
• Donation of your time, care and skills for a
  development cause

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In other words

• The spirit of Volunteerism is the result of
  thinking with the heart

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Why Do People Volunteer?

• Altruistic reasons helping others, personal
  values, improving the community
• Social reasons spending time with other people,
  community ties, responding to a direct request
• Instrumental reasons personal interests, gaining
  experience, increasing self-esteem

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Who can Volunteer?

• Young and old
• Girl and boys
• Women and men
• Rich and poor
• Tall and small
• Thick and thin
• Syrians and non-Syrians
• Employed, non-employed, retired
• YOU!

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Types of Volunteers

• Temporary volunteers
• Part time/full time volunteers
• Full time volunteers on allowance (JICA,
  Australians volunteers, Peace Corps)
• National UNV volunteers (allowance, full time,
  min. 3 months contract, above 21 years, 2-3 years
  work experience)
• International UNV volunteers (allowance, full
  time, min. 3 months contract, above 25 years, 5
  years work experience)

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United Nations and Volunteerism

• At the heart of Volunteerism are the ideals of
  service and solidarity and the belief that
  together we can make the world a better place. In
  that sense, we can say that Volunteerism is the
  ultimate expression of what the United Nations is
  all about
• (former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan)

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Millennium Development Goals
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria other diseases
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Ensure environmental sustainability
Reduce child mortality
Develop global partnerships for development
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UNV Programme who we are

• The UNs focal point for volunteerism
• Established in 1970 by the UN General Assembly as
  a development partner
• Administered by the United Nations Development
  Programme
• An advocate for volunteerism as a major form of
  civic engagement and mobilization
• A partner to UN bodies, governments, civil
  society private sector to integrate
  volunteerism into development planning

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UNV Programme is unique

• UNV is a portal to a huge untapped human resource
• UNV is a unique instrument available to the UN
  System
• UNV is a unique opportunity for the global
  citizen to engage in UN activities
• UNV promotes the concept of Volunteering for
  Development (V4D)

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Volunteerism for Development (V4D)

• V4D is more than charity long term versus short
  term
• Achieving the MDGs needs millions of people to
  get involved
• Societies need to build their own solutions
• Volunteerism is a key way to include ordinary
  people in development
• Volunteerism is part of the fabric of most
  societies. It improves social cohesion

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How UNV works - The AIM Strategy
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Distinctive contributions
to effective development

• UNV volunteers
• Mobilize communities through voluntary action
• Bring stakeholders into inclusive and
  participatory dialogue
• Provide access to opportunities, services and
  delivering of services

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UNV volunteers versus other Volunteers

• Other Volunteers
• Flexible time
• For free (non-paid)
• No time bound commitment
• No contract (but can have)
• No health insurance (but can have)
• Theme Volunteers Volunteer for a specific cause

UNV volunteers Full time job Receive
allowance Min. 3 months commitment Contract Health
insurance Professional Volunteers Promote
Volunteerism as part of the job Promote V4D
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What do UNV volunteers do?

• Volunteerism for development
• Achieving the MDGs and reducing human poverty
• HIV/AIDS awareness, training, monitoring
  evaluation
• Disaster Prevention, Management and Recovery
• Support for elections and democratic governance
• Peace building and conflict resolution
• Civil affairs and human rights
• Communications and training
• Community development and mobilization
• Environmental monitoring, eco-tourism, energy,
  and sustainable development

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Where UNV volunteers work

• 8,000 volunteers in 2007
• 76 from developing countries
• 37 volunteered within their own countries

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Project examples from the world

• MDG 6 Provide Healthcare
• In Malawi, more than 1000 volunteers from an Aids
  NGO work in 457 villages. They identify patients
  through word of mouth or from counseling
  sessions. Volunteers help people living with
  HIV/AIDS with housework, hygiene and cooking.
  Through information campaigns, the volunteers
  also raise awareness on HIV/AIDS in the
  communities

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Projects examples from the world
MDG 1 Eradicate Poverty A Vocational Training
School in Vietnam is managed by mainly female
volunteers. Students learn catering, sewing,
small business management and languages. A Café,
bakery and catering service cover admin costs of
the school as well as scholarships for poor
students
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UNV Programme in Syria

• UNV Programme established in 1979
• First UNV Programme Officer and Country Operation
  Assistant appointed in 2004
• Support the UN System and other organizations in
  Syria through 63 UNV volunteers
• UNV volunteers serving in UNDP, UNHCR and UNICEF
• Comprehensive disaster reduction programme
• Strengthening the institutional capacity of
  People's Assembly of Syria
• Preparation of Syrias initial national
  communication to the UNFCC, UNDP
• Support to Iraqi refugees at UNHCR
• Girls education in UNICEF

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UNV Programme in Syria

• UNV projects since 2004
• Interactive Theatre on MDGs in rural Syria -
  Firdos
• Childrens Art exhibited in the Beijing Olympics
  Rainbow
• Gender workshop UNDP
• World Refugee Day 20 June - UNHCR
• Marathon for Volunteerism IVD 2004
• Discussions and seminars on Volunteerism IVD
  2004
• Photography workshop on Gender IVD 2005
• Volunteerism Fair in Sibki Park IVD 2007

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UNV Programme in Syria

• UNV project ideas for 2008
• Youth Volunteers for MDGs RYU, UNDP and UNICEF
• Volunteer Club at Kalamoun University and
  Anti-smoking campaign WHO, MoH and NUSS
• TV-spots on Volunteerism UNDP
• Volunteer Law Syrian Commission for Family
  Affairs
• Creating links between NGO and UNV/UN agencies
• National Volunteer Committee SPC and Mosal
• UN Theme Cluster on Volunteerism
• Training Programme for UNVs

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Positive on Volunteerism in Syria

• A great wish to volunteer for development among
  Youth and Syrian people
• Many excellent ideas and projects developed in
  NGOs
• Many new NGOs established within short time
• Increased focus on Development (not only charity)

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Challenges for Volunteerism in Syria

• No matchmaking mechanism - people dont know
  where to go if they want to volunteer
• Renewal of NGO law (association law)
• Improve project management skills in NGOs
• Strengthening coordination between NGOs
• More knowledge on what is Volunteerism for
  Development
• More information on how to go from charity to
  development

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What can YOU do?

• Read more about Volunteerism on
  www.worldvolunteerweb.org and www.unv.org
• Talk to family, friends and colleagues about
  Volunteerism and civic engagement
• Get involved Participate in Volunteer activities
  with NGOs
• Develop you own volunteer activities in your
  community what do you think need to be done?
• Become a Onlinevolunteer
• Participate in the International Volunteer Day
  (IVD)

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Online Volunteering

• UNV provides a large database of online Volunteer
  opportunities in development cooperation!
• Tasks completed by a person via the Internet
• Involves volunteers instead of employees
• No fee or payment
• Organizations requests help to assignments online
• Volunteers apply for assignments online
• Assignments
• Project proposals
• Strategies
• Translations
• Research

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International Volunteer Day - IVD

• UN General Assembly proclaimed 2001 the
  International Year of Volunteers (IYV)
• IYV Follow-up in 2011 preparations have started
• International Volunteers Day (IVD) on Dec. 5th
• IVD provides an opportunity for organisations and
  individuals to work together in projects and
  campaigns on development

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IVD in Syria

• 2004
• Mini-Marathon with more than 2,000 runners
• Volunteering Day with more than 300 student
• Discussion Forum with more than 100 participants
• 2005
• Photography workshop for women
• 2007
• 4 big tents in Sibki park
• 17 NGOs and UN agencies in stands
• Volunteers made activities and showed their works
  to the public
• 2008
• - UN staff and government officials volunteering
  in NGOs

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Volunteering is enhancing my personal skills
because...

• It develops my compassion for people
• It develops my solidarity
• It gives me friends and network
• It makes me enthusiastic
• It cheers me up and gives me hope
• It makes me responsible
• It makes me feel good when I am needed and can
  contribute

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Volunteering is enhancing my professional
skills because...

• It develops my capabilities in organising and
  planning activities
• It gives me knowledge about objectives,
  strategies, results and evaluation
• It give me knowledge about my people and my
  country
• It builds my knowledge on certain important
  development issues
• It adds to my credibility to an employer when I
  am showing that I am willing to do what I believe
  in without money

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How to contact the UNV Programme?

• Signe Ejerskov
• signe.ejerskov_at_undp.org
• 612 98 11, ext. 293
• Mobile [phone]
• Hadbaa Al-Orabi
• hadbaa.al-orabi_at_undp.org
• 612 98 11, ext. 229
• Working hours 9am-3pm

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THANK YOU, and learn more on www.unvolunteers.o
rg www.onlinevolunteering.org www.worldvolunteerwe
b.org