United Way is a champion of volunteering, whether it’s one-on-one virtual tutoring, participating in global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, or anywhere in between. Today we are celebrating all kinds of volunteers all over the world. Will you join us?
Mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, International Volunteer Day (IVD) recognizes the value of volunteers and provides a worldwide platform for reinforcing that volunteers are a critical part of the solution to development challenges.
Inclusion and equality among people and countries is Sustainable Development Goal 10. “Volunteer for an Inclusive Future” is IVD’s theme this year and gets right to the heart of how important volunteer engagement is to achieve all the Goals. Volunteering makes it possible for people of all ages and abilities to fully participate in their communities and strengthens solidarity and inclusiveness. Regardless of your income, race, or social status, volunteering can be a great equalizer.
And now, in an effort to strengthen protections and equality among development volunteers, we have the Kigali Declaration, the Global Standard for Volunteering for Development. Forum (International Forum for Volunteering in Development) led the creation of these standards, and I was pleased to join with colleagues in Kigali, Rwanda in signing the Declaration on behalf of the international volunteering agencies we represent.
Signers of the declaration commit to a set definition of impactful and responsible development volunteering and to principles for how projects are designed and delivered, how volunteers are protected and managed, and for measuring impact. Pledging to uphold these standards contributes to improving the quality of and equality within the volunteering sector.
And what can you do to celebrate equality and inclusion on IVD and any day? Take part in the EQUALIZER social media campaign. Gather your friends and colleagues, a few boxes, and see how long it takes to make everyone at “equal” heights. Post your photo or video on social media by adding #volunteer4inclusion! In your caption or text, tell us a bit about what inclusion and volunteering means to your group. Learn more about the effort and other ways to celebrate IVD. Thanks for joining the International Volunteer Day celebration!
#IVD2019 #Volunteer4inclusion