XVIth World Volunteer Conference
Volunteers: Capital of the Millennium
More than 2000 delegates representing 102 nations gathered January 14-18, 2001 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for the 16th International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) World Volunteer Conference. Three major themes permeated this biennial conference: (1) the critical role of youth as volunteers, not only asfuture societal leaders, but also as a present force today in communities; (2) the maturation of a global non-profit sector with unifying characteristics and increasing political, social and economic power; and (3) the role of volunteerismworldwide as both a vehicle through which critical services are provided to people and as an expressive means of addressing individual and collective social action.
127 seminars were presented during the conference organized around seven main tracks: (1) Volunteer Work and its Relation to Government, (2) Volunteer Work and the Business Community: A Partnership, (3) Renewal and Professionalization, (4) Volunteer Effort as a Motor of Societal Renewal and Change, (5) Youth and Volunteer Effort, (6) Diversity, and (7) Reward, Recognition, Payment, Certification.
My associate R. Dale Safit and I were two of only ten U.S. presenters. On Tuesday, January 16th, Mary Merrill and R. Dale Safrit presented "Nine Strategies for Building Effective Business Community Partnerships" to over 120 conference participants. On Thursday, Dale presented "Nurturing Seasons of Service as Social Capital" to 60 participants.
The conference sessions were a mix of theoretical and practical information. Topics varied from "The Development of Children and Women in Nepal" to "Civic Participation and Civil Society" to "Rethinking Volunteerism: A New Paradigm" to "Recognizing, Rewarding and Recruiting Volunteers - 100's of Ideas From Around the World." Canada was well represented, with Linda Graff (a featured presenter for the upcoming 2001 Forging New Links Conference in Ohio) presented "Risk Management in Volunteer Programs," and Vicki Trotter and Joanne Kaattari of Community Literacy of Ontario presented an excellent session of mechanics of creating a web based training program.
Several sessions dealt with overviews of ongoing research in volunteerism, suchas a cross-national study in 24 countries on overall level and distribution of volunteers; a 10 county study of the public perceptions of "who is a volunteers?" and an overview of the VIVA method for measuring the valuation of volunteering in economic terms.
One of the most moving presenters was Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General and CEOof CIVICUS, The World Alliance of Citizen Participation. Mr. Naidoo, a South African, identified eight critical issues facing the non-profit sector:
Mr. Naidoo, an active opponent of apartheid in his home country, shared thathis favorite volunteer was a good friend of his who had also been active in theanti-apartheid movement. He related that once when they were hiding and runningfrom the authorities his friend had asked him what was the greatest gift a person could give to his cause. Kumi replied without hesitation, he would give his life for his belief. "No," his friend replied, "The greatest giftyou can give is what you do with the rest of your life." Later the friendwas found with 48 bullet holes in his body. Mr. Naidoo said he never forgot his friend's words and he knows that it is what we do with the rest of our lives that is truly important.
I only wish I could impart to you the passion and conviction behind his words. He was one of the most moving speakers I have ever heard. He received a standing ovation.
The World Conference was designed to give a meaningful start to the United Nations International Year of Volunteers 2001, and it promoted the four themes ofthe International Year: Promotion, Networking, Facilitation and Recognition. All participants received a copy of "Volunteering Worldwide" which highlights voluntary activities and projects in 21 countries around the globe.
"Volunteering is the fundamental building block of civil society. Without people who are willing to be involved in their community, there are no NGOs,no philanthropy, no responsible governments, no democracies. This book will help you understand this, and even more important: it will challenge you to buildsupport for volunteers." Kenn Allen, World President, IAVE.
The book is available from:
NIZW Uitgeverij
PO Box 19152
3501 DD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Email: Bestel@nizw.nlThe official IAVE poster:
THE YEAR THAT CHANGES THE WORLD
2001: The International Year of the Volunteers
is available from:
IAVE
1400 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
www.iave.org
You may also inquire about US distribution of the book.
I hope many of you will visit the UN web site and continue to monitor world-wide activities around IYV. I encourage you to build this international theme into your local volunteer celebrations this year. We can each do our own part to link hands with volunteers around the globe.
I hope you enjoy the following photos from the XVIth IAVE World Volunteer Conference.