International Volunteer Day 2013

International Volunteer Day (IVD), on December 5th, was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers, and volunteer organizations, to raise awareness of, and gain recognition for, the contribution they make to their communities.

On IVD 2013 we not only celebrate and recognize volunteerism in all its facets, but also pay special tribute to the contribution of youth volunteers in global peace and sustainable human development. For IVD 2013 we celebrated globally that young people act as agents of change in their communities.

• In Ethiopia, IVD activities were announced via FM local radio to create awareness and attract as many youth as possible at Bahir Dar. A cycling competition was the first event, beginning with the young women’s competition and followed by the young men’s competition. There were also two swimming competitions for boys and girls.

• Elsewhere in Kosovo*, UNV jointly organized an earthquake drill activity at the ‘Selami Hallaqi’ primary school in Gjilan/Gujilane together with UNDP, Save the Children, IFRC, Red Cross Kosovo and the Ministry of Internal Affairs/Emergency Management Agency. The event emphasized the importance of organizing such preparedness activities as a way to avoid casualties in case of disasters. Disaster risk reduction and community resilience is one of the thematic areas within the UNV strategic framework.

• In Turkey, the NGO forum of Ankara organized a volunteer day award programme in which more than 100 associations and 350 volunteers were involved.

• In Nicaragua, a cultural and volunteer action fair was organized.

* Kosovo - All references to Kosovo on this website are made in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

More stories from world volunteers are available here.