International Volunteer Day, December 5th International Volunteer Day, December 5th, is celebrated in more than half the countries of the world. UNV Albania takes the lead in joining forces with other volunteering organizations in the country, organizing activities to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) and further promote the message of volunteerism. IVD was first proclaimed by the United Nations on the 17th of December 1985 and has played a central role in drawing global attention to the work of volunteers all around the world. IVD is dedicated to volunteers working in communities around the globe, and celebrates the efforts of those who have made an important contribution to society through volunteer service.To find out more about IVD across the world, click here IVD in Albania over recent years International Volunteer Day 5 December 2010 Youth Conference In commemoration of 5 December, International Volunteer Day, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and its partners organized a two day Conference on Volunteering for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Tirana. Representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, United Nations, civil society, youth and volunteer organizations participated in the event that featured life stories, presentations, good practices and an open forum focusing on how volunteering contributes to meeting the MDGs in Albania. IVD offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions to the achievement of the MDGs. At the conference stories, pictures and debates were shared and everybody was invited to join the discussion about how volunteerism can support towards meeting the MDGs in 2015. Already, volunteers are contributing their expertise; communities are taking action to improve their lives; and decision makers are increasingly realizing the value of volunteerism. These stories don’t make the news, but they are changing the world. Competitions were part of this activity as well. The winning children of the painting competition are: Anxhelo Hysaj, Shkendie Lloci, Arsid Buzalli, Xhoana Ymeri, Emra Mecani, Petro Laze, Ronaldo Mecani, Samuel Xhaibra, Endri Zeqiri, Xheni Elezi, Rexhina Xhija, Xhoi Rahmani, Amanda Hasaj, and Reneo Hadja. The winners of the Essays competition on “Volunteerism and its role in development” are the following youngsters selected from the main high schools of Tirana:  Sara Furxhi, Krist Dushi, Sidrit Kraja, Xhesika Fazlliaj, Erdal Domi, Dafne Bajraktari, and Adi Grishaj.On the second day a workshop on MDG 1: Poverty reduction was organized where Prof. Gezim Tushi explained what poverty is and its traits in Albania followed by brainstorming sessions, exercises and presentations on approaches and best practices in poverty reduction and community development. For more information and the agenda of the Conference click here.  Volunteer Fair as part of IVD 2010 A volunteer fair was organized as part of the IVD Conference promoting youth volunteerism and providing practical advice on volunteer opportunities in the country. UNV together with volunteer-involving non-governmental organizations displayed and presented their work during the first day of the conference. It was a great opportunity for students, volunteers and young people to get to know different organizations. It also provided the possibility for organizations to register and involve youth who are interested to volunteer and participate in their programmes. Participating organizations are: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Albania, UN – Empowering the Local Vulnerable Communities of Albania project, U.S. Peace Corps, Save the Children, CAAP, TAMAM Albania, Young Volunteer of Tirana, AS@N, International Social Service (ISS), Different and Equal, Balkan Youth Link Albania (BYLA), Vodafone Albania Foundation and partner organizations, Sanus Albania, Korpusi Shqiptar i Vullnetareve, Fondacioni Vitrinat, Islamic Relief Worldwide - Albania, Qendra Rinore Kucove, Albanian Youth Council, PVN. International Volunteer Day 5 December 2009 Volunteering for Our Planet Our climate is changing and it will affect us all. Temperatures are rising and this may bring natural disasters such as storms, flooding, droughts and wildfires. It will hit the most vulnerable the hardest. To do our part in combating climate change UNV launches the theme for this year’s International Volunteer Day on 5 December – ‘Volunteering for our Planet’, urging everybody to Volunteer for our Planet and support the UN system-wide campaign to 'Seal the Deal' at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen. It is the world’s best chance to seal a deal on climate change www.SealtheDeal2009.org and take action! The petition will serve as a reminder that our leaders must negotiate a fair, balanced and effective agreement in Copenhagen, and that they must seal a deal to power green growth, protect our planet and build a more sustainable, prosperous global economy that will benefit all nations and people. Activities organized in Albania: 04 December 2009:  Several activities were organized in Tirana. Out-door activities were organized in Blloku area: Delivering fabric bags and fliers and regeneration of the wall from posters and papers, and painting it in order to promote environment protection activities. Volunteers who want and like to paint, deliver fabric bags and flyers to the pedestrians and talk to them about climate change, are all welcome. The activity is organized in cooperation with Mjaft Movement and Tamam Albania organizations. Another activity was a TV debate on recycling and the reduction of the use of plastic bags will be aired on channel TVSH. Airing of the “Story of Stuff” documentary at “Memorial School”, followed by an open discussion on climate change issues. Activity lead by Tamam Albania, in cooperation with UNV. Promotional materials will be delivered. IVD Volunteer Party at UNIT Bar, Bllok area, with music, soft drinks and the projection of the “Story of Stuff” documentary. In Fieri, the activity for this day was planting of trees to promote a greener environment. The activity is lead by the EVC project team of Fieri. Fabric bags and flyers will be delivered. In Korca “Eco-Levizja” group organized open debates on Environment Protection in different 9-year schools. Fabric bags, flyers and other promotional materials were delivered. 05 December 2009:  Round Table and delivery of prizes for the 10 best Volunteers of the year from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Youth Department.  We have the pleasure to announce that one of the winning volunteers is IUNV Gavin David White, for his support and volunteer contribution to the achievement of the UNV Programme goals in Albania, including the realization of a TV spot on volunteerism, which will be aired by UNV HQ Bonn in the UN Climate Change Conference. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUEk6SMve48. Out-door sensitizing activities in QTU and other markets and trade centres in Tirana, through the delivery of plastic bags, flyers and informal discussions with customers. Airing of the “Story of Stuff” documentary at “E Pershtatshme” Café-Library, followed by an open discussion on climate change issues. Activity lead by Tamam Albania, in cooperation with UNV. Promotional materials will be delivered. Remember, even simple gestures can make a difference! International Volunteer Day 5 December 2008 To mark International Volunteer Day, United Nations Volunteers and its partners organized the Round Table “Volunteerism for Development and Integration” at Tirana International Hotel in Tirana. Representatives from central and local government, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Volunteer (UNV), civil society and academia participated in the event that featured presentations and an open forum. The aim of the roundtable was to explore best practices and challenges encountered in engaging volunteers in community work in Albania. Ms. Vibeke Risa, UNDP Deputy Country Director in Albania opened proceedings presenting an overview of the important role volunteers can play in the development process. The representative of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Chances Ms. Vilma Prendi greeted participants and expressed the interest of the Ministry of Labour to support volunteer initiatives, highlighting the importance of coordination and collaboration with the civil society sector. Subsequent presentations went on to explore successful case-studies of volunteer mobilization in community work through volunteerism, including a volunteer scheme managed jointly by the Municipality of Tirana and New York University of Tirana. Following the roundtable agreement was reached on several key recommendations to further volunteerism nationally. These included the incorporation of a volunteer component within the school curriculum and the advancement of legislation to consolidate volunteerism through the appointment of a government focal point to over-see future volunteer initiatives. In addition to the Round Table, a volunteer fair was organized to promote youth volunteerism and provide practical advice on volunteer opportunities in the country. United Nations Volunteers together with several volunteer-involving non-governmental organizations showcased their work and were on hand to answer questions from young people. While relaying practical information and advice, the event was also an opportunity to celebrate International Volunteer Day with free drinks and live music. Participating organizations included; PVN, International Social Services, Red Cross Albania, Mjaft!, WUS Austria, Vodafone Foundation, Rromani Baxt, TAMAM Albania, Tirana Legal Aid Services and Walk Together. While sensitizing young people to the importance of volunteerism and active participation in community life, the event gave participating institutions the opportunity to network and exchange experiences of volunteer mobilization. This activity was organized with the generous contribution of Club Seven (who offered the venue for the activity), Agna Group (who offered free drinks), IDI Electronic (for provided the sound equipment) and Erjon Lleshi (who DJ on the day).   International Volunteer Day 5 December 2007 Fostering the Spirit of Volunteerism with National Book Distribution To mark IVD 2007, volunteer-involving organizations organized a voluntary book redistribution activity. People were encouraged to donate novels and stories for young people and children who do not have adequate access to reading material. Books were collected in Tirana, Durres and Kucova and were distributed to under-resourced schools in neighbouring areas. Together with our local UNV partner organisations, Peace Corps, UNICEF (Albania Reads Programme), Terre des Hommes Mission in Albania, PVN, Mjaft and the Regional Environmental Center and many individual volunteers, we collected a grand total of 1,400 books. The initiative was supported by several publishing houses, including Dudaj and Marin Barleti University. The book redistribution activity was invaluable in encouraging people to contribute in a small way (giving a book) and by doing so being part of a larger movement that made a visible and tangible difference to the lives of others. The activity was successfully replicated in different parts of Albania and has done much to generate a positive image of volunteerism and how people can get involved. In photos: volunteers and students taking part in national book distribution during IVD 2007
Seminar on Volunteerism and Active Participation The objectives of the seminar, that took place on 19 December 2007, were to increase the capacity of youth workers to effectively mainstream volunteerism and social participation within their regular activities and foster improved cooperation and communication links between youth and volunteer NGOs. For the UNV office the activity was an invaluable step in defining the needs and priorities of volunteerism among youth NGOs. The target groups included youth workers, youth leaders and NGO activists who were interested in learning and making a contribution to promoting volunteerism and social participation in their organization, community and society as a whole. The seminar programme was composed of intercultural and interactive learning activities that included, small group work, conceptual information on volunteerism, debates, case studies, discussions, presentations, exchange of experiences and role plays. Several presentations were delivered during the event. Firstly, Ms. Fran Deans, UNV Programme Officer talked about volunteerism at the local, national and international level. Ms. Blerina Gjeka, UNV Albania Country Operations Assistant, who facilitated the training, spoke on active participation and leadership for sustainable development. Peter Lincoln, a Peace Corps Volunteer shared his own experience as an international volunteer. He expressed the importance of volunteer actions not only to change people’s lives for the better, but also as a source of personal enrichment. Andi Kanani, from the organisation Mjaft, shared his experience on active citizenship as a key element to ensure democratic and social development, while his counterpart Arber Zaimi shared some interesting points on democratic leadership. In addition, PVN activists shared their lessons learned through the implementation of a project in Thethi.   International Volunteer Day 5 December 2006 Environment Activity Çajupi High School in Tirana organized an activity on environmental awareness supported by the Regional Environmental Center. Students painted the wall of the school yard and designed a symbolic tree “Keep the promise 2015” for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. In addition, as a symbol of IVD the students of Çajupi High School and representatives of other schools planted a tree by the lake in Tirana’s main park. Posters and paintings prepared during the activity were displayed at the Voluntarism Fair at the Pyramid building in Tirana. Teachers and students from Shkodra, Lezha, Korça, Kukesi and Gjirokastra high schools participated in the event. The activity was implemented under the framework of the UNV-Regional Environmental Center project “Promoting MDG 7 Principle in Albania through Awareness and Volunteerism”.   Roundtable A roundtable discussion was held at the premises of the Albanian Red Cross. The theme of the discussion was: “How to further encourage volunteer activities in Albania” Participants were drawn from the main volunteer-based organizations and institutions in Tirana. Topics of discussion included the need for a law on volunteerism and the promotion of a volunteer role at the community level. Ms. Esma Shyle, Volunteer Management Coordinator at the Albanian Red Cross highlighted the importance of IVD to their organization and the promotion of volunteerism in the country. She said that most of the organization’s programmes were based around the essential and fundamental work undertaken by local volunteers. School Performance IVD was celebrated by 400 children from high schools in Tirana. This included participants from special schools for the blind, deaf and mute, as well as those from ethnic minorities at the pyramid building in Tirana. The children performed small theatre sketches, songs, poems, dance and music, displaying their varied and impressive talents. Each performance had a theme based on the Millennium Development Goals. Voluntarism Fair Drawings by students related to volunteerism and the Millennium Development Goals were displayed at the Pyramid building in Tirana. Volunteer organizations and organizations promoting volunteerism took part in the exhibition, displaying promotional material and pictures that documented their activities.
2001, the International Year of Volunteers In November 1997, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers and UNV was designated as the international focal point.With its main objectives of increased recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering, the International Year of Volunteers provided a unique opportunity to highlight the achievements of millions of volunteers worldwide and encouraged more people to engage in volunteer activity. For more information and to find out how the year was marked, please visit the World Volunteer Web
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