European Year of Volunteering 2011

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The EU has designated 2011 European Year of "Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship".
euractiv.com
The European Volunteer Centre before the decision was made with some interesting reasons for doing this:

Raise public awareness of the scope, value and impact of volunteering in Europe and to highlight its contribution to our communities...
Celebrate volunteers and volunteer organisations for their contribution and to showcase good practices and projects involving volunteers;
Raise awareness among European citizens...
Work towards the reduction of barriers and discrimination that people face when wishing to volunteer...
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Encourage Member States to exchange good practice concerning volunteering policies...

European volunteer centre on why volunteering matters.

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volunteer.ie

“In Ireland volunteering and volunteers play a huge role in providing a range of services and I look forward to seeing the contribution of these 1.5 million plus activists duly recognised in the Irish celebrations throughout 2011.

Marian Harkin has worked on this project and the link is about her comments.

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Volunteer.ie The slogan is to be:
"Volunteer! Make a difference"

Volunteering Ireland is to be the lead organisation for the European Year of the Volunteer here.
European Volunteer Centre you can see the logo.

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Abstract art celebrating volunteering It is a part of the European year of volunteering in Ireland.

Abstract
To celebrate the European Year of Volunteering 2011 and to recognise the tremendous contribution which student volunteers make to the lives of their communities, third level institutions from across the island of Ireland have come together to develop “We Volunteer!” a photographic exhibition of student volunteering. “We Volunteer!” will preview in the Trinity College Dublin Library from January 17th to 23rd and will be officially launched in the National Library of Ireland on January 24th (5:30 - 7:30) in Dublin. “We Volunteer” is sponsored by Campus Engage, the national network for the promotion of civic engagement in Irish higher education.

If you have an interesting volunteering story they are looking for contributions my-story. Of course the volunteerism forum very much welcomes interesting volunteer stories too so feel free to find a good thread or start a new one.

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EYV Irish website
Irish Times

PRESIDENT MARY McAleese spent Saturday afternoon with what she described as “the best people on the whole island”, and urged other people to join them in the coming year.
She was addressing about 300 volunteers who had gathered at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, to mark the official start of European Year of Volunteering.

They included volunteers in such sectors as animal care, the arts, homelessness, multiple sclerosis support, youth work, senior citizens support, community work, disabilities, meningitis, rehabilitation, international development, sports and addiction services.
Mrs McAleese said we all knew how harsh the world had become during the recession.

“But we have no idea how unbearable it would be without the commitment and energy of volunteers. If volunteers across Ireland stopped their volunteering tomorrow, there would be an ice age – a social, cultural, individual, horrendous ice age.

It is good to see volunteers being acknowledged. Keep up the good work!

miju

Indeed some good coverage of Order of Malta on the RTE six one news.

Video is here at 23 mins in for anyone interested

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1091531

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EYV launch speeches extracts (found on the Volunteer Fingal website)
The 22nd to the 28th of August have been allocated for the Dublin stop of the EYV pan-European tour

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There was a major supplement with the Irish Times recently on "Volunteering, making a difference". "Celebrating the European Year of Volunteering 2011". It had several extensive articles of interest to people in the volunteering area or thinking of volunteering. They are still available to read on the Irish Times website so if you didn't get to see the supplement it is worth a good look.
http://www.irishtimes.com/society/eyv2011/

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The EYV2011 roadshow comes to Dublin between the 22nd and 26th of this month.
EYV2011.ie

Part of the European Year of Volunteering (EYV2011) celebrations, the weeklong European Year of Volunteering Roadshow runs from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th August in EC House, Dawson St, Dublin 2 and is organised by Volunteering Ireland.

Dr. Yvonne McKenna, CEO Volunteer Ireland, said, “Volunteering as a family can be very rewarding and can offer children new learning experiences and perspectives on social issues, helping them gain essential life skills. I would encourage families and individuals who have an interest in volunteering to visit the Roadshow, all types of voluntary organisations will exhibit during the weeklong event providing information on how people can get involved. Whether you want to sign up or are just interested to see what Irish voluntary organisations are up to, the EYV2011 Roadshow is a great day out for all the family and provides an opportunity for the public to meet some of the 750,000 Irish volunteers who work with voluntary organisations on a daily basis.”

eyv2011.ie

Each day is themed:
Monday 22nd Volunteer! Make a Difference
Tuesday 23rd Volunteering for All Ages
Wednesday 24th Sports, Arts & Heritage Volunteering
Thursday 25th International, Health & Campaigning
Friday 26th Volunteering in the Great Outdoors

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The roadshow is here this week.
Whats on (pdf)
Irishtimes.com "Roadshow focuses on volunteering"
Independent.ie "Paws for thought as volunteers urged to help out"

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Some of the unsung volunteer heroes were honoured as part of the European year of volunteering for their twenty plus years of service to the Citizens Information Board this week. citizens information board

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Speaking at this special event, Mr Tony McQuinn, Chief Executive, Citizens Information Board said: "Volunteers have played an essential part in the development of Citizens Information Services and continue to be integral to the delivery of this community based service. They bring commitment, life experience and a vast range of skills to their role."

He added: "This event which is particularly appropriate in this the European Year of Volunteers, acknowledges the volunteers who have dedicated themselves for the past twenty years or more, to ensuring that their local communities, especially the vulnerable or socially excluded, have access to information on entitlements and services and the assistance needed in securing them."
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