International Volunteer Day (IVD) is this December 5th – are you ready to celebrate the efforts of your volunteers and raise awareness about your organisation’s good work?
Understanding What IVD Means
International Volunteer Day is an annual UN mandated holiday that recognises the efforts of volunteers and their organisations from all across the globe and the good work that they do in their service communities.
While many organisations use this holiday as a time for celebration, and other fun events, this holiday is about more than throwing a party. Even though this holiday is a prime opportunity for organisations and volunteers to receive recognition; it is also the perfect time for volunteers and others to get the word out about their nonprofit’s mission and goals and raise awareness about their cause!
IVD Event Ideas
In addition to awards ceremonies, many nonprofits will host marches, parades and rallies so that they can show how the services that they provide impacts other individuals, the community and the world at large. Others will choose to celebrate the day by encouraging others to pitch in and join them in their efforts, which is in keeping with this year’s theme for International Volunteer Day: #GlobalApplause – give volunteers a hand.
Many nonprofits find that the holiday is just the added nudge that they need to get other organisations and individuals on board and involved in giving back. International Volunteer Day is a great time to partner with organisations. Some joint activities that are great for collaborative efforts are hosting friendly volunteer competitions, or starting a time donation campaign where individuals previously unaffiliated with a nonprofit’s work can give volunteering a limited trial by donating a specific amount of time, such as an hour or two, towards a specific group project in their community. Ideally, these folks wil find that they enjoy the experience so much that they will make volunteering a regular part of their lifestyle, or perhaps donate other resources to the nonprofit’s cause.
For Many Organisations and Volunteers, IVD Shines a Spotlight on Millennium Development Goals
While some organisations choose to focus on their own goals and mission on International Volunteer Day, others choose to come together with volunteers at other nonprofits and third party agencies to promote the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and the UN’s efforts to increase peace and sustainable development throughout the world. As in many prior years, many of these events this year will focus on volunteer efforts to combat poverty, halt the spread of malaria, HIV-AIDS and other diseases, as well as increase equal opportunities for education and greater gender balance in organisations around the world.
Volunteers make significant contributions in their communities and the world at large, and these contributions make a true difference in the lives of many. Regardless of how your organisation celebrates the holiday, the important thing is to remember, recognise and express gratitude for all of the hard work and effort put forth by your volunteers.
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