Why Have a European Year of Volunteering?

What Are the Aims of EYV 2011?

Why Volunteering Matters

Who Can Contribute to EYV2011?

Why Have a European Year of Volunteering?

The experience of community and voluntary organisations shows that there is a need at all levels – EU, national, regional and local – to increase volunteering and the awareness of the added value it brings, to celebrate volunteers, involve more volunteers and improve the structures that support volunteering, including policy framework.

Celebration

The efforts of volunteer individuals and organisations make a huge difference to our lives, locally and nationally. EYV2011 aims to recognise the impact that volunteering activities have on society and celebrates the commitment of the millions of people across Europe who volunteer in countless industries, activities and guises.

Inspiration

This year is also a challenge to the three-quarters of the European population who do not volunteer:  To let them know that they too can get involved and make a difference. The European Year of Volunteering aims to empower people to volunteer by promotion and facilitation.

Dedication
EYV2011 recognizes the value which volunteering inherently provides to communities. Volunteering promotes social and economic development at a local, national and international level. Volunteering has the possibility to promote the harmonious development and engagement of civil society.

What Are the Aims of EYV 2011?

The European Year of Volunteering 2011 recognises the contribution of voluntary activity to society and the value that volunteering inherently gives to causes and communities on a local, national and international level. The Year will foster an understanding for the importance of volunteering in creating a more democratic, caring and responsible society. As such, the main objectives of the Year are to:

• Work towards an enabling and facilitating environment in Ireland and the EU
• Empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering
• Reward and recognise volunteer activities
• Raise awareness on the value and importance of volunteering

Why Volunteering Matters

• Volunteers are the agents of European values and objectives as laid down in the Treaties, in particular in terms of promoting social cohesion, solidarity, and active participation – theirs are the hands that translate these values into action, day after day.
• Volunteering contributes to building a European identity rooted in these values and towards attaining a mutual understanding between people in society and across Europe;
• Volunteering in its horizontal nature is indispensable in a wide range of EU policy areas such as social inclusion, the provision of life-long learning opportunities for all, policies affecting young people, inter-generational dialogue, active aging, integration of migrants, intercultural dialogue, civil protection, humanitarian aid and development, sustainable development and environmental protection, human rights, social service delivery, raising employability, the promotion of an active European citizenship, fighting the “digital gap”, and within corporate social responsibility;
  • Volunteering is an economic factor. The voluntary sector contributes an estimated 5% to the GDP of our national economies.
  • Volunteers and their organisations are at the forefront of developing innovative actions to detect voice and respond to needs arising in society.

Who Can Contribute to EYV2011?
Everyone – including YOU!

Learn about the Key Activities around Europe and in Ireland or Add your event to the EYV2011 Calendar

It is important for stakeholders of every kind to get involved in EYV2011 especially

• Voluntary groups and organisations that involve volunteers

• Companies who already support their employees volunteering efforts, or who would like to get involved and support local and community initiatives

• The Media print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers can promote the great and important work volunteers do

• Volunteers themselves, time to stand up and celebrate the work you do and the cause you work for and encourage those who are not already involved to Volunteer! Make A Difference!

• Students: Get involved in a voluntary project in your school or college, or start your own initiative. Promote EYV and volunteerism on your campus, school, society, or website.