KATHMANDU, Dec 5: International Volunteers Day (IVD) is being observed in Nepal today by organizing various programs.
The day is observed to celebrate volunteers’ efforts, to share their values and to promote their service around the world.
This year the day is focusing on inclusiveness for the future by recognizing our universal “oneness”. Simultaneously, it is celebrating the richness and diversity of cultures and societies around the world.
Rally to Mark International Volunteers Day
With volunteering becoming more popular around the world, opportunities in every sector are becoming available in Nepal.
With countless opportunities, people find it difficult to know where to start looking and how to get involved. While starting the process, it is important to remember that volunteering can take many different forms. It can range from a single event or act of kindness to even a long-term participation. The best way to get involved, is join a friend that is already volunteering, or get a group of friends together and volunteer for a day.
“To provide access to know about volunteerism and to support the theme of Volunteer for an Inclusive Future we aim to provide wider information to people who are interested to volunteer,” the United Nations Information Centre stated in a press release.
This year’s event is being organized by volunteer organizations working throughout Nepal.
Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Youth Council (NYC), UNDP, UNFPA, Metro Traffic Division KTM and UN Voluteers are among those organizations which are joining hands together to observe the day.
The program is being held across the seven provinces to promote the importance of volunteering in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with focus on SDG #10 Reduced Inequalities.
Awareness booths for sharing on volunteerism have been setup in Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur, according to the UN Information Center.
“The booths provide information on how to become volunteers and whom to contact. Information will also be shared on “Orange the World” campaign, with its 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence,” according to the release.
A collaborative event at Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur has been organized to raise awareness of volunteerism. The event is being run simultaneously with a blood donation, volunteer information booth and an “equalizer photo” event.
With events happening all over Kathmandu Valley, UNV in collaboration of other organizations, has mobilized over 100 volunteers in the following locations: Basantapur, Boudha, Exhibition Road, Jawalakhel chowk (in front of the zoo), Patan Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Kamal Binayak. These events are being held from 11:00 to 3:00 pm today with an aim to provide opportunities for people, particularly those often excluded, to concretely impact their own lives and play a constructive role in their communities by volunteering their time and skills, the UN Information Centre stated.
