September 22, 2011
IAVE at Civicus World Assembly 2011
The Civicus World Assembly was a wonderful opportunity for IAVE to network and share our inspiring practices around volunteering. It was also a great occasion for all those involved in progressing civil society to share together, learn from one another and be motivated to go back to home countries and do much more to make the world a better place.
Held on September 10-12 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the theme of the 2011 Civicus World Assembly was ACTING TOGETHER FOR A JUST WORLD, with a sub-theme of Civil Society and Global Decision- Making: Doing it Better.
IAVE was featured in a session entitled Global Corporate Employee Engagement, Inspiring Practices, Impact for Development. Sarah Hayes, IAVE's GCVC Consultant Director, led the session and expounded upon the many ways that companies are addressing real and serious world problems. The recent IAVE research report, Global Companies Volunteering Globally, was the framework of the session. Additional speakers included Regina McNally, Global Employee Volunteer Program Manager, State Street Corporation (GCVC member), and Buffy St-Amand, Community Development Manager, Volunteer Calgary. Regina shared with workshop participants about the global outreach strategy and approach of State Street, as well as sharing a particular case study focusing on education. Buffy shared about the role of the Volunteer Center in working with companies, as well as a specific Employee Engagement Model that Volunteer Calgary developed in working with one particular company.
The World Assembly began with a plenary that highlighted the history of Civicus, with former board chairs, former Civicus Secretary General Kumi Naidoo, and current Civicus Secretary General Ingrid Srinath.
The second plenary was an inspiring session entitled "Civil Society's Role in Political and Social Transformation: Before and After the Revolution". Panelists enlightened attendees on the often arduous journey that it is to go from corruption and lack of human rights to freedom and democracy in a nation, this journey often taking much longer than originally expected when excitement is high. Speakers represented South Africa, Indonesia and Morocco, as well as a very articulate and committed young woman involved in the more recent events in Egypt. The passion and dedication showcased by these speakers who were and are deeply involved in the fight for justice, equality and freedom was well received by the participants at this year's World Assembly.
Subsequent Plenaries included topics such as "Global Decision Making: Moving the Margins to the Center", and "Climate Justice: A Momentous Battle for Human Rights"
A strong theme throughout the Assembly was collaboration and partnership amongst the sectors for the good of civil society. As Ingrid Srinath eloquently stated during the opening events "Co-Existence or No Existence." Forums and Workshops threading through the event continued this theme in a variety of ways, addressing a myriad of topics. To check out the program, please go to www.civicusassembly.org.
There were four program tracks throughout the conference:
- Development Effectiveness
- Climate Justice
- Connecting People Through Technology
- Civil Society and Democratic Space
IAVE"s workshop was featured under the Development Effectiveness track. Clearly volunteering is an important component in any of these tracks, and certainly relates well to the theme of the Assembly. "Doing it better" in Civil Society so often involves and depends on the committed and passionate service of volunteers everywhere around the world.
For a full report on the IAVE presentation, please download the below file.
