Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Saturday, 1 March 2014 07:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
day marks an important milestone in UNV’s and UNDP’s collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Social Services in the area of promoting volunteerism in SRL.
During the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, the UN Volunteers Program in Sri Lanka initiated a case study on Volunteerism in this country. A key factor highlighted in this research was the need for a Volunteer Information and Coordination Centre (referred to as VOICE) at national level.
It was anticipated that such a centre could: facilitate, coordinate and network volunteers and volunteer involving organisations, matching needs with resources; further improve the impact of volunteer contributions on social development; and facilitate the recognition and appreciation of volunteers for the important service they provide for the welfare of vulnerable groups in the Sri Lankan society.
It is now recognised that volunteerism can play an important role in the development of a country. Just to mention two advantages: On the one hand, activities undertaken by volunteers would otherwise have to be funded by local government authorities or by private capital and it therefore eases the financial burden. On the other hand, it is also closely related to the formation of social cohesion and social capital, and fosters participatory processes, which in the Post-2015 era of development will be even more vital and imperative.
However, in SRL, volunteer contributions are still largely overlooked and underutilised. They are seldom fully recognised, promoted and supported by authorities and by other policy- and decision-makers. As I speak, I am sure there are volunteers in different parts of the country who are selflessly helping people improve their lives – even right now – it is time to give them due recognition, and also to help the local volunteer sector organise itself in a way that it would make the best of itself.
Many people around Sri Lanka are volunteering for social change. We need to recognise the contribution volunteers make to peace and development in Sri Lanka and provide them the necessary support required.
Therefore, in addition to the other activities promoted by the VOICE project, like the elaboration of a university course on volunteerism for social work with the National Institute of Social Development or the deployment of Legal Aid Volunteers with the Legal Aid Commission of SRL, the creation of the National Volunteer Secretariat as a one-stop-facility for volunteering under the Ministry of Social Services, can contribute significantly to utilizing volunteering to its full potential.
This year we will work closely with the National Volunteer Secretariat housed in the Ministry of Social Services, to draft a national policy on volunteering, legislation for volunteering, and enhance the capacity of the staff of the Ministry to take over the operational responsibility of the NVS beyond 2014. Additionally, the NVS is expected to have implemented a volunteer management system, and an online interactive volunteer-matching-database.
Finally, by the end of the project period, a National Survey on Volunteerism will be concluded to bring even more clarity into the question as to why many Sri Lankans consider volunteering a very positive feature of their society, but are seemingly reluctant to engage.
Structures similar to the Secretariat being set up here in SRL, have been set up in many other countries, very often supported by UNV. The National Development Volunteer Service in Nepal for example is operating since 1989 and has to date mobilised over 8,800 volunteers in all 75 districts of the country.
The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency works closely with other government agencies, non-government organisations, the academia, the corporate sector, the media and other partners in converging and linking different volunteering efforts and resources, so that they are aligned with national priorities and assist especially the marginalized sectors and communities.
I am looking forward to seeing such achievements realise here in SRL as well, under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Services, the Project Board members as well as the support from all of you, so that we can all benefit from the fruits of this highly efficient and sustainable resource.
Allow me at this point to extend my special gratitude to the Minister of Social Services Felix Perera, the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Services Emelda Sukumar, the Director Planning, Ramamoorthy, the Working Director of the NVS Kirby de Lanerolle, as well as the representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, who all saw and continue to see the potential of this project and gave their full support.
I wish everyone, including the Project Team, all success in making the NVS fully operational – thank you very much!
