January 12, 2010
DaneAge: El Cedro presentation, Seniors Forum, 20th IAVE World Volunteer Conference Panama 2008
El Cedro Consultancy Inc.
P.O. Box 0831-0651
Panama City - Republic of Panama
Telephone +507 264 3065 - Mobile Phone +507 6618 7266
E-mail: jesper@cableonda.net
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Associate Consultants to the Global Compact Network of Panama
Part of the Global Compact of the United Nations
www.redpactoglobalpanama.org
www.unglobalcompact.org
XX IAVE World Volunteer Conference - Panama City
FORUM 4 - Senior Volunteering
Profile:
Jesper Cederkvist graduated from University of Copenhagen, Denmark, with a
Master’s Degree in Laws - including studies in Public Administration. In Denmark, he has worked as consultant for 3 professional key interest organisations (NGO’s) - including 4 years with DaneAge Association. As a volunteer, he has organisational experience from leading positions since 1984; primarily through Lions Clubs International and sports for disabled. In Panama, Jesper Cederkvist is - since 2005 - owner of a consultancy company whose current two main assistance fields are Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) services for the Private Sector and organisational development services to new and existing NGO’s.
Abstract:
Senior Volunteering in Denmark - DaneAge Association.
The purpose of this presentation is to convey the history of successful senior volunteering in Denmark carried out via DaneAge Association. The presentation will strive to contain significant elements that can serve as inspiration to the participants at the IAVE World Volunteer Conference in Panama City in accordance with one of the stated purposes of IAVE - to encourage and facilitate communication and sharing of "best practices" worldwide. DaneAge Association is a national membership organization founded in 1986. The association now has more than 500.000 members, organised in local committees. Among the members, DaneAge has more than 10,000 volunteers working in the local chapters, doing voluntary social work, providing local membership activities, doing local lobbying, etc. 2 out of 3 volunteers are women; on average they have been volunteers for 5 years.
DaneAge’s Mission is to support a person's right to create an active and meaningful life on his/her own terms and actively be able to participate in society, regardless of age. DaneAge strives to conduct serious and believable advocacy through dialogue with government, local governments and the private sector.
Activities:
DaneAge Association provides:
Knowledge and information to the public on the diversity of ageing
Assistance, support and counselling for those who need or want it
Knowledge, tools and education to help people make informed decisions that ensure a life on their own terms (pension plans, housing arrangement, late career, etc.)
Meeting places, activities, networking for people wanting to meet others, to experience, be entertained, or learn
Value-added membership benefits
Volunteers and staff
Volunteers are involved in every aspect of DaneAge’s work - from governance to local profile, supporting families with dementia sufferers; supporting employers in their efforts to recruit, retrain and retain older workers; arranging activities for members; working energetically in the political arena. Collaboration and cooperation between DaneAge's staff and volunteers is vitally important. Particularly important in this respect is sharing knowledge. To this end, various information tools - a magazine, an e-mail newsletter and a special intranet website - are employed.
