Youth to attend volunteer event in Nairobi
Dorine Ninihazwe, Africa Union’s ONE Campaign East Africa, director
Thousands of youth will on Thursday assemble in Nairobi marking the International Volunteer Day 2019 (IVD2019) themed "Volunteer for an inclusive future", highlighting SDG 10 and the pursuit of equality – including inclusion – through volunteerism.
Led by Dorine Ninihazwe, Africa Union’s ONE Campaign East Africa, director, the youth who will assemble at Railways Club in Nairobi will discuss various issues including personal development and enhancement of skills; networking, encouraging innovation and community development.
“Volunteering provides opportunities for people, particularly those often excluded, to concretely impact their own lives and play a constructive role in their communities by volunteering their time and skills. Through volunteerism, communities around the world often experience strengthened solidarity and inclusion,” Ninihazwe said in a statement yesterday
She said the IVD is an opportunity to promote volunteerism, encourage government support and recognize volunteers’ contributions to the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at local, national and international levels.
Ninihazwe observed that despite selfless actions, volunteers and volunteerism continues to be under-valued, unrecognised and unaccounted for globally.
This year’s IVD, UNV East and Southern Africa Regional Office (UNV ESARO) is working with the government, various volunteer involving organisations and several partners in the region to directly unite over 10, 000 formal and informal volunteers and partners across East and Southern Africa region to showcase the immense value of volunteering.
This will also include strengthening volunteer platforms and contribute to the attainment of the SDGs in the region.
A number of volunteer market place activities are lined up for today’s activities including; UNV-led SDG thematic clinics; volunteers’ community dialogue to articulate the agenda 2030 and SDGs; volunteer promotion sessions at special needs college; volunteer’s exhibition and youth edutainment; tree planting at water catchment areas, and cleaning hospital premises among others.
