National Volunteer Week launched in Accra

Graphic.com.gh / Ghana Nov - 28 - 2013 , 20:17

The Coalition of Volunteering Organisations Ghana (COVOG) in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the National Youth Authority has launched the National Volunteer Week and the International Volunteer Day (IVD) in Accra.

The one-week celebration, which started on Thursday, November 28, is under a global theme 'Young. Global. Active.'

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is an international observance designated by the United Nations since 1985. It offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This year’s celebrations will not only recognize volunteerism in all its facets, but pay special tribute to the contribution of youth volunteers in global peace and sustainable human development. On Thursday, December 5, young people will be globally celebrated as agents of change in their communities.

A statement signed by the President of COVOG, Ghana, Pastor Chris Nyame, said the objectives of the celebration is to create awareness of what individual volunteers and volunteer organizations do, to recognize and celebrate individual volunteers and volunteer organizations for their commitment, dedication and hard work, and to inform various stakeholders and the general public, especially the youth about the critical role of volunteerism in national development.

“Every person, regardless of his or her situation or circumstances, has the capacity for caring and working in solidarity to reduce human suffering and contribute to human dignity,” the statement said.

It said COVOG and its partners believe the National Volunteer Week and International Volunteer Day celebration will give volunteerism a new lease of life in the Ghanaian society, rekindling the spirit of volunteerism especially amongst the youth.

Activities lined up for this year’s celebration include a Blood Donation exercise for the Ridge Hospital at the YMCA office at Adabraka on Saturday, November 30 at 9:00am and the Inauguration of Espace Volontariats (France Voluntaires) at Alliance Francaise on Monday, December 2.