Coronavirus and the Global Volunteer Community

THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF VOLUNTEERS

Recorded March 25, 2020
As a highly contagious and dangerous virus, COVID-19 is leaving many volunteers vulnerable to the potential risk of infection. Volunteer involving organizations all around the world are making adjustments and establishing new protocols to keep their volunteers safe. Watch Stuart Garland’s (Volunteer Ireland) presentation on the challenges presented by the coronavirus on volunteer management, and actionable steps we can take to ensure continual engagement of our volunteers in safe and effective ways.

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MANAGING VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERS DURING A PANDEMIC

Recorded March 27, 2020
Due to the unique circumstances arising from the coronavirus crisis, new and innovative solutions are being developed to to assist organizations and facilities who engage volunteers. Liora Arnan of Israeli Volunteering Network shares innovative best practices for digital volunteering and practical tools and methods of training and managing a network of virtual volunteers.

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A CONVERSATION WITH FRONT-LINE VOLUNTEER LEADERS IN ASIA

Recorded April 2, 2020
As the first to be impacted, the infection rate in many parts of the Asia-Pacific region are now beginning to decline. Flora Chung of the Agency for Volunteer Service (Hong Kong) and Lenard Pattiselanno of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (SIngapore) shares what’s to come for those who are at the beginning stages of the outbreak, and how, with the power of volunteering, they have responded rapidly to the pandemic to provide assistance to the most vulnerable.

HOW YOUTH CAN RESPOND TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Recorded April 7, 2020
Young people play a vital role in the global volunteer community. In midst of the coronavirus pandemic, youth volunteers are looking at innovative ways to assist their communities, particularly to those most at risk. Steve Culbertson, President & CEO of Youth Service America (USA), offers his insight on mobilizing youth volunteers in response to the crisis.

BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING DURING COVID-19

Recorded April 14, 2020
Communities all around the world are struggling from the effects of the coronavirus. During this time of uncertainty, we become susceptible to stress, fear and feelings of isolation. However, volunteering can play a huge role in building resilience and helping the community to overcome the challenges that they are facing. Dr. Ben Lough of the School of Social Work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shares how volunteers help build resilience in the communities they serve.

CÓMO INTEGRAR A LOS JÓVENES EN LA ESTRATEGIA DE RESPUESTA

Recorded April 16, 2020
Responder a la crisis del COVID-19 está obligando a muchas organizaciones de la sociedad civil, en Latinoamérica y el mundo, a repensar cómo llegar y cómo hacer parte a los jóvenes de sus instituciones de una forma estratégica. Camila Ponce, Directora del Área de Educación en Solidaridad Global de la Fundación América Solidaria Internacional, comparte diversas metodologías para trabajar con los y las adolescentes de América Latina y el Caribe, haciendo énfasis en experiencias e ideas en terreno.

CORONAVIRUS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SDGS

Recorded April 21, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has presented a series of challenges to the global volunteer community. However, despite the various obstacles and hurdles, volunteers around the world are using this as an opportunity to come together in solidarity and turning the crisis into a catalyst to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Lynn Wagner (Senior Director, Tracking Progress) and Faye Leone (Senior Policy Advisor, Tracking Progress) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) share their insights on how the pandemic will likely impact the SDGs and its implication on volunteer-led organizations around the world.

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AYUDA HUMANITARIA EN TIEMPOS DEL COVID-19

Recorded April 23, 2020
Los desafíos producto de la pandemia global del coronavirus movilizan diariamente a voluntarios que deben responder rápidamente a las necesidades urgentes de sus comunidades. Con una amplia experiencia en manejo de voluntarios en tiempos de crisis, Vanessa Vázquez, Fundadora y Directora de la Asociación Civil Juguete Pendiente en Perú, compartirá los detalles de un modelo que articula esfuerzos de cuatro sectores, -gobierno, sociedad civil, academia y empresa-, para brindar primeros y segundos auxilios a comunidades en pobreza extrema.

RESPONDING TO THE RISE OF INFORMAL VOLUNTEERING

Recorded April 28, 2020
The response from people wanting to help with the COVID-19 crisis has been overwhelming. Much of this has been about people simply wanting to do something helpful for their neighbours. This rise in informal volunteering is appreciated but also at times challenging as individuals stepping forward to help are not linked to an organization or institution, there is no one to support them as volunteers including keeping them safe. Join Stuart Garland (Volunteer Ireland) and Ksenija Fonovic (CSV Lazio, Italy) as they share what their organizations are doing to guide and support both formal and informal volunteer efforts.

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NUEVOS CAMINOS DE SOLIDARIDAD: EL CASO DEL VOLUNTARIADO VIRTUAL

Recorded May 12, 2020
En medio de la emergencia sanitaria por coronavirus, la cuarentena ha puesto a miles de familias de escasos recursos frente a situaciones críticas. Ante la imposibilidad de exponer a los voluntarios a salir a la calle, surgen una serie de canales virtuales para dar soporte inmediato. En esta sesión, Julio César Benítez, Presidente Ejecutivo de la Fundación Voluntar en Ecuador, compartirá un ejemplo de acción virtual, construida en alianza por organizaciones de la sociedad civil y el sector empresarial, que posibilita a cientos de voluntarios dar soporte emocional y tips prácticos para la reorganización de los hogares en el país, fortaleciendo la resiliencia de las familias más necesitadas.

LA RESPUESTA DE LOS ADULTOS MAYORES Y LAS PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDAD AL COVID-19

Recorded May 20, 2020
El voluntariado, como una práctica que promueve la solidaridad y la colaboración, debe ser un foco de fortalecimiento para la inclusión de todos los grupos, incluyendo las poblaciones más vulnerables. En esta sesión, Oscar Bravo, Vicepresidente del Centro Nacional del Voluntariado CENAVOL (Perú), y Rolando Verdecia, Coordinador General de la Pastoral de Personas con Discapacidad del Consejo de Iglesias (Cuba), compartirán ejemplos prácticos de cómo los adultos mayores y las personas con discapacidad están respondiendo a la pandemia, dando testimonio de que sus condiciones no son impedimento para participar activa y efectivamente en la búsqueda del bien común.

VOLUNTEERING IN CONFLICT AREAS: RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY TO COVID-19

Recorded May 21, 2020
The actions of volunteers are essential to support and keep people who live in conflict zones protected and healthy. But doing so can often be incredibly difficult for many reasons: the conditions and the context, the prohibitions and contradictory policies, and the nature itself of the communities’ needs. Join Steve Sosebee, the President & CEO of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, as he shares how the organization is responding to the challenges of COVID-19, providing humanitarian help to those who most need it.

The Future(s) of Volunteering

Recorded June 4, 2020
The scale, scope and speed of change unfolding in the world today is extraordinary. Impacts on economic, social, political, and environmental systems are without precedent and transforming volunteering in all of its forms. Facing significant need with limited resources, new approaches, tools, methodologies, and major paradigm shifts must occur if we are to continue to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. Join Mario Varón, CIO of socialBaq, as he shares insights on current global trends and how they are and will be impacting the future of volunteering. Recording Only Available for Members.

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT IN A CRISIS

Recorded June 18, 2020
In the event of a disaster or emergency volunteers are often needed to provide practical and emotional support as they aid victims, support the delivery of government/public services and help rebuild communities. Volunteer management is key to achieving the effective involvement of volunteers. So what does good volunteer management in a crisis look like? What has happened in relation to volunteering and COVID-19? Join Denise Hayward, CEO of Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland, and Sarah Henderson, Resilience Advisor for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), as they share a wealth of information and experience on how to involve volunteers in emergency situations, delivering effective volunteer management in a crisis.

The Response of Governments to COVID-19

Recorded June 23, 2020
In the midst of the pandemic, governments have a crucial role to play in enabling and supporting the response of volunteers, providing them with effective and secure ways to assist their communities. In this session, Yoann Kassi-Vivier, Head of Reserve Civique, a program for the development of civic engagement policies to respond to COVID-19 in France, and Kirsty Peden, Community Engagement Manager at the Dumfries and Galloway Council and leading member of the South West Scotland response team, will share their experiences in shaping volunteering government programs to respond to the effects of coronavirus.

Innovation & Adaptability: Corporate Responses to the Pandemic

Recorded June 24, 2020
The worldwide pandemic has changed many facets of life. Volunteer programs are no exception.  While corporate employees have been volunteering in many forms for years: hands-on, skills-based, pro-bono, cross-border, etc. all but virtual volunteering has pretty much come to a stand still. However, some companies have pivoted to create new and innovative ways to tap employee’s enthusiasm for volunteering and to meet a growing list of community needs. Join us for our corporate volunteering webinar to learn how the Canadian firm Telus is making creative adjustments to their employee volunteer programs.

El caso de Brasil: Estrategias de Voluntariado para Responder al Impacto del COVID-19

Recorded July 1, 2020
Las familias que viven en favelas y comunidades precarias en Brasil están en condiciones extremadamente vulnerables, más propensas a los impactos del coronavirus. A fin de brindar ayuda inmediata, Hábitat para la Humanidad Brasil ha desarrollado una serie de esfuerzos que suman las acciones de voluntarios en todo el país: voluntarios profesionales, para la creación de los materiales y textos de comunicación; voluntarios digitales, que se involucran en la recaudación de fondos con sus redes sociales; voluntarios comunitarios, que ayudan en la identificación de las comunidades y familias necesitadas, así como en la distribución de los kits; hasta voluntarios activistas de la causa, que están trabajando en conjunto en el monitoreo e incidencia de políticas públicas de protección en los territorios. Acompañe al equipo de Hábitat, que en esta sesión compartirá sus experiencias para responder efectivamente a los impactos del COVID-19.