Reach Out, Volunteers -- It's Our Time!

As volunteers from all walks of life and all regions of the world, our time has come. This International Volunteer Day on 5 December is a big one--it marks the launch of the International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV2001). It is the day and the year we have been waiting for. It is our chance to celebrate to gain global recognition through the promotion of volunteer action. What you achieve through national and local launches this 5 December will set the stage for a year of activities highlighting our common values and dreams as volunteers.

We at the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) are thrilled that the UN General Assembly has declared IYV 2001. We want to draw the world's attention to the enormous contributions millions of volunteers make to their societies worldwide. But we want more: we hope to facilitate more favourable conditions for all those who volunteer their time and talent for the benefit of others.

Volunteers are known for stepping out and taking chances to affect positive change. Starting on IVD and extending throughout 2001 we should aim high -- social transformation through volunteerism. But if volunteerism is to have a measurable impact and help glue societies together, it needs to figure more prominently in public policy and gain recognition as a valuable, and valued, form of activity. The work of volunteers needs to be honoured and celebrated.

How can we best advance the work and conditions of volunteers? First, we must volunteer, and second, we must bring multitudes more on board. There is one very crucial step to inspire people to volunteer-and it works all over the world: you have to ask them. Research on giving and volunteering has found that individuals are four times as likely to volunteer when asked than when they are not. Advertisers and marketing experts know this. You can have the best ad campaign in the world, but if you fail to include a call to action, your target audience could slip away unaware. Politicians know this: it's not enough to earn people's vote, or to show that you deserve their vote. You have to ask for their vote.
Organizations that need the help of volunteers sometimes fail to ask for it.

So a key message of IYV 2001 is this: reach out. Recognize the immense contributions that diverse people can make. Ask people to get involved, explain the benefits and recruit volunteers like never before. Recognize the opportunities for more inclusive volunteer efforts, made possible through the Internet. Sign up and log on to the IYV web site (www.iyv2001.org) and other global volunteer networks stretching across continents.

It's our time. I'm asking you to join with us in making the most of it.

Sharon Capeling-Alakija
UNV Executive Coordinator