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Ethiopia
joins International Volunteer Day
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ADDIS
ABEBA(December 5,2008) - The International Volunteer
Day (IVD) is being celebrated today around the world including Ethiopia
where a series of activities are organized by volunteers and volunteer
organizations in marking the annual day.
The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to give
due recognition to the willingness of many individuals who devote
their time, efforts and resources to the welfare and advancement of
all.
Senior Officials of the Ethiopian government are expected to join
the UNV/UNDP in Ethiopia, including volunteer mobilizing organizations,
volunteers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and NGOs in a rally
at the Volunteer Square in Mekanisa area in an effort to highlight
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In some places, IVD will be marked with the launch of a week- or month-long
campaign to promote volunteerism and recognize volunteers.
While underscoring volunteer contributions in development, the event
will also discuss the role of volunteers in support of the development
process of Ethiopia.
"MDGs are ambitious, but with global voluntary action, they are
achievable.
International Volunteer Day provides opportunity to strategically
support such action," Alessandra Tsiot, UNDP Ethiopia Country
Director said speaking at a press conference at the UNDP office here
a day before the international annual event.
In a message read out at the event, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon
said, volunteerism was fully recognized as a potentially vast and
powerful resource to engage people in the pursuit of peace and development.
Mr. Ban said the cultural form and definition of a volunteer may change
depending on circumstance, but the underlying principle never wavers:
every individual can make a difference in society.
"The altruistic sprit of volunteerism is immense and renewable.
On this IVD, I urge all members of global community to tap this great
reserve of energy and initiative," he pointed out.
UN Volunteer programme is the volunteer arm of the UN system supporting
peace, relief and development initiatives in nearly 150 countries.
Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by the
United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), UNV works through UNDP
country offices to promote volunteerism and mobilization of volunteers.
The UN Volunteers programme deploys 7,500 volunteers every year to
support national development efforts, and many millions more contribute
their time and energy in their own way.
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