El Cedro presentation at the Ethics Forum at the XX IAVE World Volunteer Conference Panama

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 3 - Ethics and Values in the Practice of Volunteerism

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) until he moved to Panama in 2005. As volunteer, he has organisational experience from leading positions since 1984 - primarily through Lions Clubs International and sports for disabled. In Panama, Jesper Cederkvist is 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. Jesper Cederkvist was born with a physical disability. As a result of that he has gone through quite a few surgeries until he turned 20, but more importantly it has given him a personal and comprehensive experience within the handicap area - especially prerequisites for and accomplishment of inclusion.

Abstract: “Removal of the hats”
Particularly in the first half of the 20th Century, a “hat lady” was used in Denmark to describe an upper class lady who participated in charitable work. At the other end of the spectrum, the expression “to stand with the hat in the hand” describes someone less fortunate who - in a submissive and humble way - has to ask for or rely on other people’s charity.
Although the hat ladies and their male co-volunteers that were involved with charity indeed performed very needed and also appreciated work for the poor and other less fortunate groups, the two different “hat images” above illustrate how socioeconomically advantaged people were working for the less fortunate instead of working with them.
In other words, even if the charity was positive, it was hardly carried out with specific focus on “building sustainable communities that respect the dignity of all people and empower them to exercise their rights as human beings” - which in the Universal Declaration on Volunteering is what all volunteers are called upon to proclaim as their belief in volunteer actions.
Fortunately, volunteerism today encompasses much more a broad spectrum of different types of organizations. It is a multi-faceted palette, however also characterized by major differences from country to country and from culture to culture.
Today, “the number of hats” has undoubtedly decreased, and respect, dignity, inclusion, and sustainability are values that are increasingly recognized and practiced in general.
Nonetheless, even today it is not difficult to find examples of volunteer efforts that - although they fulfill immediate needs - are given as a mere reflection of philanthropy and pity. And without an actual inclusion of the recipients, they will - as passive beneficiaries - still be likely to end up holding their hats in their hands.
The purpose of this presentation at the IAVE World Volunteer Conference in Panama will be to illustrate the need for and the advantages of values that - through inclusion of the groups you wish to help - ensure that the actions are based on respect for the individuals’ different background and potential, dignity and
empowerment which is the foundation for sustainable results. The presentation will mainly focus on inclusion of people with disabilities.