Home » RUSSIAN VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT CENTER ON IYV AND IYV+10
January 22, 2010

Russian Volunteer Development Center on IYV and IYV+10

IAVE IRC

 Prepare by Galina Bodrenkova
Russian Volunteer Development Center
National Rep and Board member of IAVE
with great assistance:
Svetlana Mihajlova,
Vladimir Lukjanov 
S-Petersburg center of development
and support Volunteering 
Elena Zakharova,
Sozidanie Foundation. IAVE member

 

I. Tendencies volunteering:
1. You could, describe any changes which have occurred with volunteering since 2001 in your organization and-or the country, but especially for the past 3 - you observe 4 years, and also new tendencies, which occurrence. At a stage of development of the Russian society of 90 years, volunteering as the new phenomenon in Russia has been extremely poorly developed, nevertheless the organizations of a civil society of Russia since 1995 together with the international community (the United Nations and IAVE) accept active participation in actions on promotion volunteering. Especially it was showed since 1997, after decision-making on carrying out of the International Year of Volunteers though at that time officially the Russian Federation has not subscribed under the resolution of the United Nations.

For celebrating 2001 under the initiative of institutes of a civil society (the Russian Center of development volunteering  (MCH) and Associations of assistance of the United Nations) the Government of Russia have been created National committee on carrying out of Year of Volunteers and it was first extremely significant step on support volunteering at the state level. However, the basic real work on carrying out of year of volunteers was carried out at the most local level and volunteers have brought the most significant contribution to its carrying out.

The basic impulse for the beginning совестного planning and co-ordination of general voluntary actions NGOs in partnership with bodies of the government has been given during preparation for the International year of volunteers. Now there are many attributes of that for the last some years in Russia, and especially in the last три-four years, have occured significant changes, the system approach to development volunteering, including maintenance of a recognition, encouragement, an establishment of interrelations and developments of networks and infrastructures of support volunteering  formed.

Promotion and popularization volunteering. 
Since 2000 annually on all country will be organized the general voluntary actions at national and local levels (Spring Week of volunteers, the World Day of youth service, the International Day of Volunteers). Since 2003 special focus of voluntary actions and actions (Spring Week of Goods, the World Day of Youth service) on the purposes of development of millennium MDG. For this period voluntary activity especially in the youth environment has considerably raised. Participation volunteers in Volunteer Action from 10 thousand volunteers in 2000 up to more 1 million in 2007 (more than 80 % youth). The general actions promote significant promoting awareness to a role volunteering in a society and to association of efforts of bodies of the government and the voluntary organizations for the decision of socially significant problems of the country. As example can serve the 2007 year in Russia 8th annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) and XI annual national volunteer week name's " Spring Volunteer Week " (SVW) mobilized over 1 million volunteers (1,003,740) in an unprecedented show of success! In 43 regions of the Russian Federation through all country from Primorski Krai and Kaliningrad up to the Arkhangelsk area, some 16,140 social service projects were organized for GYSD and Spring Volunteer Week (SVW), illustrating the power of youth volunteerism, and serving more than 1,135,000

 

The National Committee of Co-ordination of Russia has confirmed, that 84 % of volunteers were youth, realizing socially significant projects together with volunteers of more senior age, united in their service by the general motto "We create our future together! ".

In the Russian areas projects GYSD/SVW 2007, addressing to health, formation, poverty, a civic responsibility and an environment, have received  at support of bodies of the regional and republics governments, administrations of cities, committees on affairs of youth, and also the donation and the assistanse from, more than 650 companies and organizations. 

In it to year, in total, 6,000 pieces and 6 tons of clothing and footwear, as well as 9,500 toys and 15,000 books, were distributed to those in need. Youth volunteers donated more than 290 liters of blood in a massive show of support for Russian health services. Environmental efforts were particularly impressive, both in urban and rural areas. Over 5,000 flower bulbs and more than 4,500 trees and shrubs were planted, and one ton of material and food was collected for abandoned animals in various shelters. Volunteers managed to collect more than 9 tons of paper for recycling, nationwide. Even volunteers themselves raised more than 210,000USD (nearly 5.5 million Rubles) for projects of the help to need children, older people. Additionally, about 25,000 schools students across the country joined the ' Lessons for Good ' on which they shared experience and the future plans of service to the communities. Another 815 organizations and volunteers awarded deserving volunteers with diplomas, certificates and gifts in recognition of their actions.

Strategy of promotion and popularization volunteering is realized also through attraction attention of mass media to volunteering by illumination of voluntary events during large voluntary actions. For example, During events GYSD and SVW was attracted significant attention from local and mass media, as more than 320 newspaper articles, 80 radio reports, 112 televised reports and 65 web sites featured youth service activities! The Theme volunteering starts to sound more often in mass media at expansion of discussions in a society, plots for telecasts about voluntary activity are removed (channels " Capitals ", "NTV"), are published clauses in newspapers and magazines " Tribunes ", " New news ", "Work", magazines " ELLE ", women and the policy, on a regular basis shines a theme volunteering  Agency of the social Information, and others. The theme volunteering sounds on radio stations " Echo of Moscow ", Events International volunteers in Russia two times were shined on Radio of the United Nations. Per 2005 the section devoted volunteering has been included in national report UNDP " About development of human potential in the Russian Federation: Russia in 2015: the purposes and priorities of development ", the chapter: " the Role of a civil society for achievement of the Purposes of development of a millenium in a context of the Russian

The National public award in the field of volunteering has been founded in 2005 as a token of expression of social recognition and gratitude for voluntary service to a society, achievements and innovations in sphere of the organization of voluntary activity, founded by the Russian Volunteer Development Center and "Sozidanie" Foundation at support of Committee of the State Duma on affairs of public associations and the religious organizations. In total on competition on results 2007 137 applications from 72 settlements of 43 subjects of the Russian Federation have acted. For example in 2007 in a nomination " the Voluntary center " the winner became the æᡬÔ-Petersburg regional charitable organization " the Neva Angel " for the initiative of creation of the St.-Petersburg center of support and development volunteering; in a nomination " Promotion volunteering through mass-media " - the Moscow magazine " the Woman and a policy " for a series of publications about volunteering.  Besides it, a number of the organizations and public figures (Welfare fund " Volunteers in the help to children-orphans ", the President of the Chuvash Republic Nikolay Fedorov, etc.) have received special awards of competition for the contribution to development volunteering. Ñorporation Intel has been awarded this prestigious domestic National public award in nomination " Corporate volunteering ". The award in a nomination " Corporate volunteering " is awarded to socially responsible companies successfully realizing the programs corporate volunteering.  

 

Development of a network and information-communication technologies
Large national, regional and local actions (conferences, seminars, round tables) are the effective mechanism facilitation and promotion of volunteering. As an example annual all-Russian conference on volunteering (Organizers the Russian Volunteer Development Center, Fund Creation act) which became a constant platform for development of socially state dialogue about volunteering, mutual training, an exchange of experience and acceptance of the common decisions serves. Other large actions of 2007 are Second International Festival Dobrovolchestva (May, 2007, the Tver area) organized at support of the Governor of the Tver area. Zelenin, with participation of young volunteers from more than 30 regions of Russia on which the Code of volunteers of Russia (the second edition) has been accepted, the International conference " Volunteering, as the factor of formation of a humanistic orientation of the person of the young man in a modern society " (Moscow, on November, 27-29th, 2007), " a round tables": "Volunteering  as an effective element (factor) of participation of citizens and the organizations in the decision of social and demographic problems: experience, practice, prospects of development " (Bryansk. 27 - on September, 28th, 2007, the organizer Public Advice TSFO).

        

 

Special role in development of a network play information and the Internet of technology. Today already a lot of sites and a web-pages reflects voluntary activity in Russia. As an example the new information voluntary resource opened in April, 2008 - a site " the Compass of goods " (www.kompas-dobra.ru) serves. The site is administered by a command of Fund " Creation ". The given site is conceived as an information resource for volunteers and the people, wishing to make donations through НКО, and also for the noncommercial organizations which give to people an opportunity voluntary to participate in the programs and projects, or to make the donation, to receive the information on voluntary actions (festivals, camps, etc.), To visit a photo gallery and many other things. In the end of 2008 carrying out of remote rates " the Organization of voluntary work in НКО " on a portal of the Center of remote formation of the Moscow State University is planned by it. М.В. Lomonosov which such important questions, as motivation of volunteers, methods of the organization of work with volunteers understand, formation of the voluntary program of the organization, the right and a duty of volunteers, monitoring and an estimation of voluntary work, encouragement of volunteers, etc. the Rate " the Neva angel " is developed by Fund " Creation " together with БО.

 

Recognition and support:
At the state level: Volunteering becomes an effective practical platform for development of dialogue and interaction NGOs with authorities at the decision of concrete social problems. The Russian authorities at a federal level consider volunteering in strategic plans for development of the country. In a context of realization of the Program of socially economic development of the country on 2006 - 2008 volunteering  is considered by the important tool of increase of efficiency НКО and developments of a civil society Since 2006 youth volunteering  becomes one of the important priorities of the state youth policy. Extremely important, exactly in 2007 for the first time socially volunteers activity is noted at the highest state level - in the annual Message of the President of the Russian Federation V.V.Putin to Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, having recognized the important role of volunteers in activity НКО, having named their real indicators of formation of a civil society.

 

The important acknowledgement of the state support of the noncommercial organizations participating in development of institutes of a civil society, is carried out according to the Order of the President of the Russian Federation. In its frameworks, get financial support and the projects directly realized with participation of volunteers or directed on development волонтерских of initiatives in Russia. It for example, creation of system volunteering in the Nizhniy Novgorod area, Republic Komi, Republics Buryatiya, др.. In 2007 questions of perfection of legal bases and formations of effective mechanisms of support of voluntary initiatives were considered at the All-Russia conference on social partnership Минэкномразвития. In January, 2008 volunteering became one of leaders that of II Civil Forum " the Role of civil initiatives in development of Russia in XXI century " which discussion has passed with participation of the leading ministries and departments (Минэкономразвития, Минздравсоцразвития, Минобразования and experts of a civil society). Within the limits of realization of the program of socially economic development of Russia by way of actions of the Government of the Russian Federation on intermediate term prospect development together with institutes of a civil society and Public chamber of the Russian Federation of the concept of development of charity and volunteering  in Russia (the end of 2008) is stipulated. For this purpose the interdepartmental working group on development of the concept now is formed.

 

In regions Russian Federations the quantity of voluntary initiatives of citizens increases, systems of their support are created by the commercial companies and local authorities. So, in 2008 in St.-Petersburg the first special regional Concept of development social volunteering which provides creation till 2011 of system of the state support volunteering is accepted. Known Санкт the Petersburg organization " the Neva Angel " which has acted as the basic initiator of process of development of the given concept answering on need НГО was transformed to the regional Center of development and support volunteering, a giving wide spectrum of services to citizens and the organizations. As other examples of positive practice of support volunteering  at a regional level experience of the Tver area where already more than two years are successfully realized the long-term social program "Important issue" can serve, at support of the Governor of the Tver area of Dmitry Zelenin, numerous public organizations, business - communities. In Republics Tatarstans, Buryatiya волонтерское movement is included in number of directions of republican programs of social and economic development. In Republic Chuvashiya 2007 year is proclaimed by Year of Kind affairs (volunteering)

 

Statistics.
According to containing in the Message of the President of the Russian Federation to Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (2007.) and in the Report of Public Chamber of the Russian Federation for 2006, in Russia now about 8 million the volunteers participating in socially significant activities of NGOs that makes about 5 % of the population. In comparison with earlier interrogations All Russian Center Research Public Opinion (2004) in institutional forms (activity in political parties, trade unions, the public and religious organizations, institutions of local government, др.) Participated no more than 2-4 % of Russians, and according to expert of NGOs sources the level of an involvement of the population in NGOs activities during a decade did not exceed 1-2 percent. Thus, positive tendencies are observed of development of voluntary movement and growth of number of volunteers is observed. It was promoted by purposeful efforts of the nongovernmental noncommercial organizations and real support last years voluntary efforts bodies of the government and local self-management.

 

Thus, it is possible to draw a conclusion that in the Russian Federation for last 3-4 years volunteering, shown through НГО, became appreciable for a society and the state the social phenomenon. It is more and more than people of steel not only to join the public initiatives created in 90th years and the organizations, but began to create new. Volunteering becomes more and more attractive to youth. The general tendency: volunteering becomes more and more demanded resource NGOs Sector. Are observed gradual growth of a recognition volunteering in the organizations business of sector. Programs youth volunteering actively develop, new tendencies are observed with development service-learning in educational establishments, corporate volunteering, there are more popular programs family volunteering, online volunteering, etc.

 

In many respects it was promoted by purposeful efforts on development volunteering  the nongovernmental noncommercial organizations and real support of voluntary efforts by bodies of the government and local self-management. It was promoted also by cooperation with the leading international organizations (UNV, IAVE, the International service of volunteers, Points of Light Foundation, Youth Service America and to many other things) which have transferred Russia experience and innovative social technologies volunteering, have rendered resource support at a stage of becoming volunteering in Russia. Regular reception from UNV newsletters and webßá®ÔÙ the United Nations and UNV are a popular valuable resource. In practice successful contacts and interactions with UNV at world conferences IAVE, in the country participation of representatives UNDP in пресс the conferences, devoted to celebrating of day of volunteers. It is important to note also, that participating in the international actions, projects volunteers bring the contribution to formation of positive image of the country.

 

How, from your point of view, these changes are turned (correspond) with needs, needs, socially economic development, etc. factors in your country? If you in a condition to provide any examples, please make it. Occuring changes answer needs and societies and the states.
Citizens, mainly youth, have needs personally to participate and influence social changes. Recognizing economic efficiency volunteering, authorities feel necessity of an establishment of partner attitudes with НГО for more effective decision of social problems and in attraction of voluntary potential of a society. Therefore transferring the right of the decision of social problems to civil institutes, authorities increase resource support of not state social programs. Developing social programs, NGOs pay the attention to voluntary resources more and more: Special campaigns on recruitment of volunteers are spent, qualification of organizers of voluntary work raises. Actual there are educational programs and programs of civil formation, granting of the voluntary staff and vacancies, distribution of experience and technologies NGOs, including for official bodies (establishment of social sphere, hospital, library, museums, educational institutions, др.).

 

 

Name the cores, from your point of view factors which will promote or interfere with development volunteering in Russia?
To development volunteering in Russia will promote: - expansion of an information field concerning volunteering for citizens (greater attention of mass-media to this phenomenon, programs of civil education and formation of citizens of all age and social layers); Development of a national network of the voluntary centers, - the further development of the state system of support (perfection of the legislation regarding development of conditions for participation of citizens in voluntary activity, change of a tax policy regarding granting stimulus and privileges to donors); - development of humanitarian international communications of Russia with the international voluntary community of other countries of the world through participation in the international actions and conferences IAVE, a network the Internet, including on nongovernmental channels.

 

Challenges:
Considering, that today only 5 % of the population of Russia participate in volunteering , and more than 40 % express the readiness for participation, it is necessary to develop more widely the favorable conditions allowing each citizen of Russia to realize the right to be by the volunteer. For this purpose it is necessary to perform huge work as the general efforts of all interested institutes of a society and authority. Extremely important it is represented according to recommendations of the United Nations (Res.56/38 and other) and proceeding from the saved up experience and the developed positive preconditions in Russia, inclusion volunteering  in strategic plans of socially economic development providing system development volunteering through perfection of economic organizational and legal conditions for voluntary activity is necessary. National strategy and the program of actions on development of national movement of volunteers is necessary target обще. It provides purposeful system development of an infrastructure of support volunteering by development of a network national the voluntary centers on all country. Consolidation of efforts of institutes of a civil society and authority, purposeful resource (financial) state support, support of business and mass-media is necessary. Remained three years (2008-2010) for preparation and carrying out of the International year of volunteers +10 are created with real chance for realization of these plans by the general efforts of all interested parties.

 

 

In your opinion, what the Government of Russia and the United Nations Organization - would do/could to do, to support volunteering? 
About that that is done by the Government described above.

And Government of Russia to develop a policy of support volunteering: - to accept strategy/concept of the state support of voluntary initiatives of citizens; - to accept a complex of the profile legal certificates adjusting conditions of voluntary activity of citizens and the voluntary organizations; - to bring respective alterations in the Tax Code (др. Legal certificates), concerning introductions of stimulus and privileges for the organizations and the citizens participating in charity and voluntary activity; - to promote distribution of the information about volunteering  through mass-media (first of all state and municipal) to develop social advertising volunteering; - to support programs of civil formation; - to increase financial and other resource support of the voluntary centers and programs voluntary НКО; - To support initiatives of the United Nations in the field of volunteering  and to accept active participation in their realization.

 

For UN (UNV, UNDP) suggesting:
We are suggesting:

 

Call the next st Decade of the new millennium Decade of Volunteering for the call of improvement this culture for social and economical flourishing of people all over the World.   

 

Increase awareness and recognition by the states of the volunteer role. Alongside with local actions and measures to address in the United Nations for acceptance of the Volunteer Convention with a view of increase of the responsibility for performance of obligations of the governments on performance of recommendations of General Assembly of United Nations  A/RES/56/38. 

 

Offer UNV: To put forward IAVE on competition of the maximum humanitarian award in the world, for example awards of the United Nations or Nobel, in connection with the 40 anniversary приверженной works in the field of development добровольчества it will promote attraction of attention of all world to a role global добровольчества

 

 

Preparation for celebrating Decade of the International Year of Volunteers (2001 IYV +10) 1. Please, offer any ideas for celebrating 10 anniversary IYV (from the Government, a civil society, or other interested groups)
Forthcoming three years 2008 -2010 are necessary for using 2010 of preparation for carrying out of Year most effectively for development добровольчества with participation of all interested groups of the population. To make preparation and celebrating 2001 IYV+10 a platform for the general actions, providing increase of efficiency of voluntary activity at the international, national level and local levels.

As a first step in this direction in Russia in December 2007 in honour of the International Day of volunteers the Russian Center of development добровольчества had been initiated public campaign on declaration of 2010 - Year of Volunteers in Russia, as a stage of preparation for carrying out International Year of Volunteers 10th anniversary. But the all-Russian conference on добровольчеству (on March, 13-14th, 2008, in Moscow) this initiative has been discussed and supported by participants, is included in the Resolution of Conference on the basis of which realization of the further actions on an embodiment of this idea in concrete activity and plans is under construction, including: - creation of National committee on preparation and celebrating IVY+10, with participation of all interested parties and development of a national plan of action.

  • Carrying out in 2009 within the limits of annual all-Russian voluntary conference of the international conference on an exchange of experience in the field of volunteering  (Moscow),
  • preparation of the offer and the reference in IAVE with the offer on carrying out in 2012 in Russia 22 World conferences on добровольчеству (Moscow/SPb-Petersburg). Initial discussions on the given theme have been lead with leaders IAVE on XX Conferences IAVE in Panama.
  • Offers for inclusion in a plan of action:
  • carrying out of space bridges on subjects volunteering: Russia-USA-Europe;
  • manufacture of a feature film " the World Volunteering " (conditionally) for wide display in the countries of the world;
  • carrying out of festival for young volunteers of the different countries " All paints volunteering" (conditionally);
  • establishment of public, state and international signs, awards, award for people and the organizations in the field of volunteering;
  • To promote distribution to Russia of experience and technologies of work of the local and regional voluntary centers of the Europe and the USA; - to promote development of intersector cooperation with a view of development volunteering.