25 June 2002

Cairo: The Egyptian Youth Minister hailed the establishment of the first Egyptian Volunteer Center (EVC) in his opening speech yesterday. He described it as a first step in recognizing the volunteer movement in Egypt.

The Center, a program of the Youth Association for Population and Development (YAPD) based in Cairo, aims to promote volunteer action and mobilize volunteers to strengthen development initiatives in Egypt. EVC is a joint project of YAPD and the Center for Development Services (CDS) in Cairo.

"There was a need for an organizational framework for volunteer initiatives in Egypt," said Hisham El Rouby, Chairman of YAPD. "This need", he continued, "was realized during the International Year of Volunteers 2001."

"We hope that this pilot project will be a model to be replicated throughout Egypt as well as in other Arab States," said El Rouby.

The UNV programme is the volunteer arm of the United Nations. It has helped to establish 126 national IYV committees worldwide with over 20,000 constituents working for the promotion, recognition, networking and facilitation of volunteers.