VOLUNTEER week will give organisations and individuals the chance to make visible their contributions and is an opportunity to show that volunteerism can help people in need such as the elderly, disabled, people with illnesses, victims of violence and those experiencing other social problems.
According to the Pancyprian Welfare Council (PWC), the week, which begins on Monday and culminates on International Volunteer Day on December 5, is an “opportunity for people to understand the value and work of volunteers and to give people the opportunity to start engaging in volunteer activity and encourage them to become volunteers in organisations for the welfare of vulnerable groups in our society”.
To launch the week, speeches were made by the President of the PWC Stavros Olympios and by the honorary president, First Lady Fotini Papadopoulou at a media event, where the activity programme was been presented.
The programme is in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture and aims to mobilise students from all educational institutions to participate in volunteer activities.
A reception at the Presidential Palace will also be held by the President and his wife to celebrate International Volunteer Day, where the schools which participated in the programme will be recognised.
In 1985 the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 5 as International Volunteer Day. In 1994 the PWC established Volunteer Week during which it coordinates all the project activities promoting volunteerism and mobilises its member organisations to plan activities that promote the notion and values of volunteerism. During the week, the PWC distributes information and launches awareness raising campaigns for the social value and contribution of voluntary social organisations.
The PWC was founded in 1973, when there was a need for coordination amongst voluntary organisations, social policy consultation with the voluntary sector and cooperation with governmental authorities.
The social environment of volunteerism in Cyprus was initially formed with the establishment of charitable organisations, which gradually developed into strong voluntary organisations contributing in almost all fields of social welfare.
Today it is well acknowledged that the effectiveness of social policy in Cyprus relies on the coordinated efforts of the public and private sector. The sectors are recognised by the state as reliable partners in social welfare provision with its programs and services meeting the social needs of all of society’s vulnerable groups.
According to their website, the PWC’s mission is to maximise the potentials, expansion and qualitative upgrading of the voluntary sector and to mobilise civil society to meet social objectives. The Council also supports and facilitates the further development of the voluntary social sector in Cyprus and adopts international best practice methods in the field of voluntary social welfare at national level.
It also actively participates with its members to social policy decision-making processes.
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