October - November 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS FROM IAVE
• From the World President
• Volunteering and Social Activism
• IYV+10…The Countdown Continues…
NEWS FROM IAVE MEMBERS
• Establishing an IAVE National Association – The Nigerian Model
• News Notes from Our Members
• The IAVE World Conference: An Encounter to Share
• A Canadian View of Volunteers in Elections
NEWS FROM THE GLOBAL VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY
• Building Professional Credentials in Volunteer Administration
• Scam Alert
As reported in this issue, IAVE has joined with CIVICUS and United Nations Volunteers to issue a joint report on the relationship of volunteering and social activism. Quite by coincidence, we also had available to share an article by Ruth MacKenzie, President of Volunteer Canada, on the role of volunteers in Canadian elections.
In the United States, we saw the power of volunteers in our recent national elections. Literally uncountable hundreds of thousands of volunteers worked on everything from local elections to our Presidential election. They worked for the candidates of their choices and on all sides of a wide variety of state and local referendums. They raised money, registered voters, went door-to-door for what we call GOTV (“Get Out the Vote”). They supervised and staffed polling places, counted ballots – and celebrated or commiserated together after the results were known.
It was an historic election in the United States. We gained a new level of national maturity simply in the fact that an African-American man could run for President as candidate for a major party. That he won....well, that was simply amazing!
For those of us who grew up in the United States in the time of legalized racism – when African-Americans could not vote, when they could be denied public services or access to housing and education, when they were both explicitly and implicitly second-class citizens – this was a highly emotional moment for us. I cried more than once as I watched the election night news reports.
I can honestly say that I have never been as proud of my country as I was when it became clear, just a few seconds after 11 PM, that Barack Hussein Obama had been elected the 44th President of the United States. Indeed, just writing this, more than a week later, still brings tears to my eyes.
A colleague from another country wrote to congratulate us on our wise decision in the election. He said, “I hope Barack Obama can change the world.”
He cannot, of course – at least, not alone. But what we pray he can do is to create a new environment – one of hope, one of challenge, one of meaningful engagement with the challenges of the 21st century, one of leadership.
He will need lots of help. That is why what IAVE and our members do remains of utmost importance – mobilizing and managing for impact the volunteers who, together, really can change the world.
Please say a prayer for President Obama and for all of the leaders of the world. Say a prayer for all of the volunteers of the world. Say a prayer for our shared future.
-- Kenn Allen
NEWS FROM IAVE
My report for this month is quite brief as I am being kept busy with “background work” in two major areas.
Here in Korea, in my role as the head of the Korea Council on Volunteering, I am leading the effort to convince the National Assembly not to abolish the Volunteer Promotion Committee which was established by the Basic Act on Volunteer Service and Enforcement Decree.
In my role as President of IAVE, I am hard at work preparing the agenda and logistics for the IAVE board meeting that will take place in Changwon, Korea November 16-18. We will have a complete report of that meeting in the next issue of E-IAVE. We also will have several other activities involving board members – seminars for local groups in both Changwon and Seoul and an informal meeting with Korean companies that are members of the Global Corporate Volunteer Council.
I am happy to report that we were able to get funding from Samsung Corporation to celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day. For the first time, the Korea Association for Volunteer Management celebrated the day and awarded prizes for outstanding volunteer managers.
I also was happy to welcome two IAVE members who visited Seoul in late October – our board member from the Philippines, Dr. Amelita Dayrit-Go and, from the United States, Dr. Arlene Schindler.
More next month! Happy International Volunteer Day on December 5!
Dr. Kang-Hyun Lee
VOLUNTEERING AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM
Volunteering and Social Activism – The Joint Publication from IAVE, CIVICUS and United Nations Volunteers
On October 24, United Nations Day and World Development Information Day, IAVE, CIVICUS, and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) launched their joint publication, Volunteering and Social Activism: Pathways for Participation in Human Development. The paper is based on a study undertaken by the three organisations in 2007-2008.
The full report can be found at any of these links:
CIVICUS: http://civicus.org/new/media/VolunteerismandSocialActivism.pdf
IAVE: http://www.iave.org/resources/Volunteering%20and%20Social%20Activism.pdf
UNV: http://www.unv.org/fileadmin/img/wvw/Volunteering_and_Social_Activism_FINAL.pdf
World Volunteer Web: http://www.unv.org/fileadmin/img/wvw/Volunteering_and_Social_Activism_FINAL.pdf
The background study concludes that both volunteering and social activism are important strategies for fostering people’s participation in social change and human development.
The President of IAVE, Kang-Hyun Lee said, “I hope this paper is widely utilised to further partnerships between volunteering and social activist organisations and encourages people’s participation for human and social capital development.”
Echoing this sentiment, Flavia Pansieri, the Executive Coordinator of UNV, said, “This initiative among UNV, CIVICUS and IAVE which had its beginnings during the International Year of the Volunteer (IYV), stemmed from our joint recognition that volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges and that it can transform the pace and nature of development.”
The Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Ingrid Srinath, expressed her hopes that “This paper will help promote greater dialogue and engagement between volunteering and social activist organisations around shared development objectives - and in so doing, strengthen citizen participation aimed at reducing poverty and inequality around the world.”
The paper argues that volunteering, like social activism, can be purposeful and change-orientated. Volunteering can be directed at influencing agenda-setting, policy-making, decision-making and representation, and is also an important mechanism for promoting empowerment, personal transformation and social inclusion.
The paper also highlights the complementary and supporting roles that volunteering and activism play in fostering participation. For example, social activism plays an important role in providing leadership, defining areas for engagement and mobilising individuals. However, social activism depends on the contributions of volunteers to effect the change it seeks.
“We must celebrate the distinctive contributions of diverse forms of participation, both through volunteering and social activism, and draw on these experiences to create stronger and more enabling environments for people’s participation,” noted co-author Helene Perold.
Embracing best practices in volunteer management, and creating diverse opportunities for individuals to take action, is also critical for promoting people’s participation in development.
In the paper, CIVICUS, IAVE and UNV call for a shared understanding of the common and interdependent characteristics of volunteering and social activism, so that the vast potential of volunteerism for advancing human development and social change can be released.
For more information about the publication or the background study, please contact Karena Cronin at Karena.Cronin@civicus.org
IYV+10…THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
The year 2011 (IYV+10) will be the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers 2001 – that’s just a little over 25 months away….This month we are pleased to call attention to how one country is preparing to celebrate International Volunteer Day on December 5.
This article comes from the e-newsletter of Volunteering Australia. It is inviting readers to participate in an online forum on the financial cost of volunteering and its impact on volunteers. This forum is part of Volunteering Australia’s run-up to International Volunteer Day and highlights the kind of issue we all have to deal with in our own countries.
The Costs of Volunteering
“Out-of-pocket expenses” is frequently cited by volunteers as the issue that most impacts their volunteering. In the 2008 National Survey of Volunteering Issues, 28% of volunteers reported that out-of-pocket expenses have a negative impact on their volunteering, however, 60% of these volunteers say it does not reduce their ability or desire to volunteer.
Cost of fuel is the greatest expense incurred by volunteers and the greatest expense reimbursed. Other significant out-of-pocket expenses for volunteers are telephone calls, postage and uniforms.
The 2008 National Survey showed that nearly half of all volunteers surveyed (47%) do not receive any reimbursement of their out-of-pocket expenses. 28% of organisations surveyed offer full reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses; 22% of organisations surveyed cannot afford to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses.
Although the most frequent costs incurred by volunteers are able to be reimbursed such as fuel, phone calls, postage etc, there are some costs which are not easily reimbursed. For example, emergency service volunteers often use their annual leave from paid work or take leave without pay to volunteer in crisis situations. Childcare is not frequently cited as an expense, but if people have to use childcare to enable them to participate in volunteering activities, it can be a significant cost; sometimes as much as $60 a day.
Some of these less obvious costs are still emerging. One respondent to the National Survey stated that volunteering impacted on her food bill: ‘Family meal times - sometimes I am so busy that I do not have time to cook and then I have to buy quick food which is a lot for a family of five.’
We know that the “costs of volunteering” is an escalating issue for volunteers and organizations alike. We would like to hear your story – what are the other issues surrounding the costs of volunteering that are just emerging?
How Are You Celebrating International Volunteer Day?
Please let us know what you do on International Volunteer Day, December 5 and we will include your story in the December-January issue of E-IAVE. Please send to kenn@civilsocietyconsulting.com. Thanks!
NEWS FROM IAVE MEMBERS
ESTABLISHING AN IAVE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION – THE NIGERIA MODEL
[IAVE Nigeria is one of the oldest of the various IAVE national associations around the world, certainly the largest and perhaps the most active. We asked Vitalis Anoupe, Regional Representative to the IAVE Board of Directors from Africa and a member of IAVE Nigeria, to tell us the story of the organization so it can be seen by others as a possible model for replication. As you will see, they are a very active organization.]
IAVE came into Nigeria in 1989 but was registered with Corporate Affairs Commission as a non-profit organisation in year 2000. IAVE Nigeria believes that volunteering brings to life the noblest aspirations of humankind – the pursuit of freedom, opportunity, safety and justice for all people. It is a means by which human values of community caring, service and participation are sustained and strengthened; individuals exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of communities; and connections are made across differences that can push us apart.
IAVE Nigeria has a 3-bedroom apartment as an office space. It has 3 paid staff (programme officer, secretary and accountant) and 5 volunteers. It has a Board of Directors as well as a National Executive and National Representative. IAVE Nigeria has membership at two levels - National and State. The state chapters have Chapter Presidents that convene and moderate the state meetings while the National Coordinator in consultation with the National Representative and other Executive members and Board of Directors convenes the Annual National Conference. IAVE Nigeria is a National Association under IAVE.
IAVE Nigeria state chapters hold monthly meetings on a day of their choice. For instance, the IAVE Chapter in Abia State holds its members meeting every third Thursday of every month. Within these meetings, issues of concerns to IAVE are discussed. Decisions are taken on the way forward for the organization including programs to be implemented and how to raise the funds. We formed a Project Committee to think out programs for 2008 and suggest possible ways of generating the funds for its implementation. As you may be aware, IAVE International is not a grant making body. That is why it is important to have a leader that is resourceful. IAVE Nigeria has high profile members. However, we are yet to tap into their resources and maximise their positions.
IAVE Nigeria has worked closely with government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the civil society through conferences/workshops, research and other humanitarian activities. In particular, IAVE Nigeria:
• Partnered with Senator Chris Adighije to train young graduates and public servants on the use of ICT to boost their opportunity for job search and to improve on efficiency
• Attended several collaborative meetings with Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) with a view to strengthening volunteering in Nigeria and drafting the National Policy on Volunteering
• Conducted a survey on “Scope, Pattern and Extent of Volunteering in Nigeria and Botswana”
• Organised “Valentine’s Day Volunteers Day” celebration. The aim is to engage the youth in productive activities rather than activities that leads to promiscuity, drunkenness and other social vices
• Organised youth conferences involving stakeholders on youth leadership and volunteering for achieving the MDGs and sustainable human development rights
• Organised workshops on rural women’s empowerment
• As a member of Transition Monitoring group (TMG), IAVE Nigeria has been involved in training monitors and observers for Nigerian elections
• Has worked with Global Rights (formerly International Human Rights Law Group) and Electoral Reform Network on human rights and electoral issues
• Contributed meaningfully in all the UNIFEM workshops on the full implementation of the State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (SEEDS) and LEEDS in the local government areas
• Celebrated major international voluntary celebrations including International Volunteers Day, Global Youth Service Day and Stand UP Speak Out/Stand Up Take Action
• Conducted seminars in schools on HIV/AIDS, civic service and volunteering
• Completed a building (an SOS Village) for the physically handicapped in Amuzukwu, Umuahia in Abia State with the support of Senator Chris Adighije
• Donated toiletries and food items to the SOS Village – a home for the physically handicapped. For its work with handicaps, IAVE Nigeria won the Nelson Mandela Garcia Markel Award at 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly for innovation work with the handicapped
• Is usually represented at major national, regional and International conferences/workshops
• Was one of the NGOs that worked with New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) on the Country Self-Assessment Report (SSAR) under the African Peer Review Mechanism
• Undertakes regular clean-up exercise and donations at places like the Federal Medical Center and Special School for the blind
• Visits villages and donates clothing, food items and toiletries to identified indigent widows and less privileged
Over the years, IAVE Nigeria assumed a leadership position in the scheme of voluntary actions in Nigeria. For instance, IAVE Nigeria provided the leadership that midwived the umbrella body of NGOs in Abia State into existence. It is known as Abia State Association of Non-governmental Organisations (ASANGO). Secondly, IAVE Nigeria facilitated the first National Summit on Volunteering in Nigeria with the theme “Volunteering: Foundation for National Development”. It was organised in partnership with Nigerian National Volunteer Service, Voluntary Service Overseas and United Nations Volunteer. Liz Burns (former IAVE World President) was a key speaker at the summit.
For nations that are desirous of establishing IAVE National Associations, it is advised that the proposing organisation/individual starts by appointing a desk officer for IAVE within your organisations' office space. The essence is to reduce cost at this stage. Then start recruiting members for IAVE.
The next stage will be to engage in activities. For instance, you can start with activities that impact positively on the environment to show commitment to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 7 – Ensuring environmental sustainability. You can start your programs with an awareness campaign to sensitize the public on the need to maintain a healthy environment and adopt basic hygiene skills.
Registration with the government and useful country-wide networks can commence after the association has stabilized. Set up a proper organizational structure if you want to be a National Association under IAVE. However, this should not prevent you from carrying out your programs or recruiting members. After all, the whole essence is to reach the people and affect their lives positively. Remember that it took IAVE Nigeria about 11 years before it was registered. Together we can build an army of compassion for IAVE around the world.
We are pleased to welcome into membership Leticia Vargas, Manager of Events, Marketing and Public Relations at Volunteering Gold Coast, a Volunteer Center in Queensland, Australia. We were a little suspicious when we saw that her mailing address is in the town of Surfers Paradise but Leticia is decidedly real. She has been a board member of the Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators for the past year and has just recently been elected President. She also is winner of the 2007 International Women’s Day Community Services Leadership Award. Her email address is leticiav@volunteeringgc.com.au.
The Friendship Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has been an organizational member since February. Recently, its director, Eriji Saburo sent us this message about the center.
“Mostly we help Thai Young People for education especially Chiang Mai Public Library and our center and teach Yoga at Chiang Mai University Hospital. We support education in Sarunaat in India for more than 300 students for more than ten years. We help them to go abroad for social learning. In the future we would make micro loans for poor people. You can contact Eriji at ejiri777@hotmail.com
THE IAVE WORLD CONFERENCE: AN ENCOUNTER TO SHARE
[This article was written by Luz Stella Alvarez, IAVE National Representative in Colombia, and translated by Maria Teresa Gnecco, Regional Representative to the IAVE Board of Directors from Latin America.]
On August 27, members of IAVE Colombia, with the collaboration of the Red Cross, organized an encounter of volunteers in order to share some of the presentations the Colombian delegation made in Panama, as well as an overall picture of the conference and main conclusions. These documents were included in a CD that was given to all participants.
The IAVE Regional Representative for Central and South America, the President of the Colombian Red Cross, and the General Director of the National Federation of YMCA opened the event referring to the great contribution volunteers make to diminish poverty through solidarity. The topics included different aspects such as ethics and values, volunteer management, corporate volunteering, strengthen of youth volunteering networks, as well as IAVE Board of Directors Declaration on IYV+10.
The event finished with a panel presentation in which some of the volunteers that attended the conference shared their learnings and commitments. Briefly , all that attended agreed that it was a unique opportunity to interchange ideas, to acquire knowledge related to fundamentals, tendencies and best practice on volunteering, to establish relationships and mainly to proof that all volunteers through the world speak the same language: the language of solidarity!! The experience contributed to evaluate the work performed and to analyze the need to contribute to eliminate the causes of poverty and not only its consequences.
It was suggested that a volunteer center of training and developing of thought is needed, that will offer the opportunity not only to receive training but also to reflect and analyze different tendencies of volunteer efforts at the local, national regional and international level, with proactive relationships. The need to work together with government, civil society and United Nations was emphasized in order to prepare for IYV+10 according to the IAVE Board of Directors Declaration.
Finally, every one agreed that to participate in a IAVE World Conference is a unique and very valuable experience.
A CANADIAN VIEW ON VOLUNTEERS IN ELECTIONS
[This article, by Ruth MacKenzie, the President of Volunteer Canada, originally appeared in that organization’s September newsletter, eVOLution. Ruth can be reached at RMacKenzie@volunteer.ca]
We know the incredible contributions that volunteers make in building Canada. The power of volunteerism, expressed by 12 million Canadians contributing almost 2 billion hours over the course of a year, spans across many boundaries – it contributes to our nation’s economy, it benefits our environment, it creates safer communities, it is linked to better physical and mental health, it uses the skills and talents of new Canadians, and it makes people feel proud to be Canadian.
Now, while citizens and political parties contemplate these exact issues as they relate to the future of our country, it is often easy to take our invaluable democratic process – and the volunteers who keep it healthy and vibrant – for granted.
For the average Canadian, election campaigns are focused more on who wins and who loses. But these campaigns are so much more than that. They are driven by the volunteers who make the phone calls, who knock on the doors, who deliver the pamphlets, who talk about the issues on behalf of the candidates and party they support. The list of tasks, which is endless, indicates the cross-cutting roles that these individuals play in driving the democratic process. Close to 100,000 individuals are involved as volunteers in the weeks leading up to and including Election Day, making this the largest episodic volunteering effort in the country.
But it’s also about more than elections – it’s about encouraging democratic participation. Organizations such as Equal Voice and Apathy is Boring are heavily reliant on volunteers to deliver their message during election campaigns – one focuses on increasing the participation of females in the political process, the other encourages young Canadians to vote and exercise their rights as citizens, respectively. These organizations demonstrate the role of volunteers that are not solely focused on one party or one candidate, but make an equal impact in moving our democratic process forward.
While they are completely different in their goals, awareness organizations and political campaigns share the same view that the democratic process needs volunteers who will go beyond the basic duty of a citizen, and will be involved in shaping the country’s future. The range of activities can vary – from delivering one pamphlet to a neighbour to putting a name on the ballot and running as a candidate – but they are all examples that support one of our organization’s main mantras: the value of one, the power of many.
Let us all take the time to recognize and thank the volunteers that are working in various capacities during this election. In particular, I would like to encourage all of our election candidates to sign the Pledge to Canada’s Volunteers, and recognize the contribution of volunteers. Our communities and our country depend on them - democracy depends on them.
FROM THE GLOBAL VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY
BUILDING PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS IN VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATION
[This article comes to us from the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, an international effort to help volunteer managers build their professional credentials. Kathi Dennis, IAVE board member, represents IAVE on CCVA’s board of directors.]
Individuals seeking to earn their CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credential in 2009 may now register. This unique, international, performance-based program recognizes practitioners with at least 3 years of experience in the field of volunteer resources management. Originally developed decades ago by the Association for Volunteer Administration, the CVA program is now sponsored by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration.
Registration for the next cycle will remain open until March 1, 2009. However, the earlier you sign up, the sooner you can receive your materials and begin the process. (Register by December 31 and save money with the special Early Bird fee!) Candidates registering for this cycle will be expected to take the exam at local sites in May 2009, and will have until December 2009 to complete the written portfolio component. This is a self-study process, requiring no travel or special classes.
To get started, visit the CCVA web site at www.cvacert.org to read testimonials from recent CVAs and print a copy of the 2009 Candidate Handbook and registration form. Specific questions can be directed to CCVA at 804-794-8689 or ccva@comcast.net
“I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am to have this credential! Truly for me this was probably the single most important exercise that has helped me to really value what I do as a volunteer administrator and really commit to the profession. “ Anne Breakey Hart, CVA – Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
“Completing the CVA has given me the confidence needed to challenge myself to continue in my chosen career path.” Lora Alberto, CVA – Mill Creek Restoration Project, Cincinnati, OH USA
“Receiving my CVA was a great experience. Having someone else acknowledge me as a volunteer management professional is fantastic. But interestingly enough, it ended up being less about recognition from the outside and more about a genuine, internal understanding that I really do know what I am doing. It was my “a-ha” moment!” Rob Buckel, CVA – Beacon Hospice, Inc., Boston, MA USA
Here are four new online scams to be aware of.
• We received an email that supposedly was from the Ford Foundation in England – but, of course, the Ford Foundation is in New York and, although they had the right website, the email address was a Yahoo one from Hong Kong!
I was told that I had been awarded 500,000 British pounds “for the enhancement of your personal, educational, and business development.” As much as I would like to have had the money…it isn’t true!!
This is not the way the Ford Foundation makes grants, all of their staff have email address @fordfound.org and they rarely send out any communication with grammatical and typographic errors in them.
• Tim Burns, IAVE National Representative from New Zealand sent us this one – an invitation for a workshop titled “Challenges of Preventing HIV/AIDS Among the African/Asian Youths.” Supposedly it will be held December 1-5 in England.
How do we know it is not real? Three ways.
First, they offer free transportation but are clear that participants must pay for their own hotels at an “approved hotel” that is not named. This means that anyone who signs up will be asked to send money that they will never see again.
Second, they say that they will process visas for participants. But the only way yo get a visa to the UK is through UK embassies and consulates.
Third, their email address is with a company in France and there is no web site given to learn more about the conference.
• Tim also has just let us know about this one – Supposedly, you are invited to a “Combined Conferences against Child Abuse and Racism that will be held the 6TH-8TH January 2009 In Anaheim California U.S.A and the 13TH-15TH January 2009 in Dakar Senegal. Registration is Free and the Organizing Committee will provide round trip air tickets and accommodation for the period of participants Stay in the U.S to all registered participants, If you are interested in been part of this Global Conference event. If you are a holder of a Passport that may require visa to enter the United States you may inform the Conference Secretariat at the time of Application ,as the organizing committee is responsible for all visa arrangements and travel assistances. NOTE: You will only be responsible for your own hotel booking in Dakar, Senegal where the second phase of the conference will be held.”
• A group calling itself Global Welfare on Child Development of Canada is inviting people to an international conference in early December on Child Welfare and Development Statagies (that’s what it says, I promise – but probably they meant “strategies” and did not know how to spell it). The email is filled with grammatical errors, promises visas to Canada and has a Yahoo email address, not an organizational one.
Once again, please do not fall for any of these scams and do not send money to any conference or “foundation” that you cannot independently verify as real.