IYV-Bhutan 2001 Task Force Drafts Action Plan at Strategy Planning Session

Representatives from local and international volunteer organizations, government, the UN and the private sector prepared an International Year of the Volunteer-Bhutan (IYV-Bhutan) Action Plan at a Task Force strategy-planning workshop June 29.

"I hope that this workshop will generate a lot of ideas to cater to volunteerism in Bhutan," said UNDP Resident Representative Shun-ichi Murata in his welcoming remarks.

At the initiation of the Japanese government, the UN commemorated 2001 as the International Year of the Volunteer. The IYV-Bhutan Task Force is charged with implementing activities that will facilitate, recognize and promote sustainable volunteerism throughout Bhutan, in coordination with global and regional IYV activities.

"By volunteerism, we mean that the each of us must feel personally accountable for what is happening in our society," said Dasho Meghraj Gurung, director of the Bhutan Post, during his opening address. "But in the end, volunteers must fall in love with volunteerism."

The Task Force drafted an action plan that aimed to facilitate, recognize and promote volunteerism through activities such as volunteer demonstrations, sponsor walks, formal documentation of the contributions of volunteers, cooperation with the government, creation of a volunteer network and an awards ceremony for those citizens who have displayed exceptional commitment to volunteerism.

In addition, the Task Force identified potential stakeholders in IYV-2001, including the royal family, monastic body, financial institutions, schools, armed services and the Bhutan Olympic Corporation.

"The workshop today shows that IYV-2001 will feature an exciting slate of nationally driven activities that will promote and foster volunteerism in Bhutan," said UNV Program Officer Janette Moritz, the workshop facilitator.

The Task Force defined a volunteer as "a person or organization who is intrinsically motivated to help those in need to build a better world."
The International Year of the Volunteer will be launched December 5, 2000.

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