International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a chance for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote their contributions to development at local, national and international levels. By merging UN support with a grassroots mandate, IVD is a unique opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations to work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups and the private sector.

IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the Day on 5 December.

The list of IVD 2010 Events

The Media resources featured:
One-UN Philippines December 2010
Manila Bay clean-up campaign (The Manila Bulletin)

IVD 2010 Clean-Up Manila Bay (5 December 2010)

As part of the celebration of the International Volunteer Day, the event 'Clean-Up Manila Bay' was held on 5 December 2010.

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IVD 2010 Volunteer Fair And Youth Forum (3 December 2010)

As part of the celebration of the International Volunteer Day, the event 'Volunteer Fair And Youth Forum' was held on 3 December 2010 at the Miriam College.

Program Download / Open in Google Docs Viewer
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Symposium on Family and Student Values (December 2010)

In celebration of this year’s IVD and in consultation with the School officials, FUNVA launched the "Adopt Kaysakat National High School Project" with a symposium. This is among the many activities planned for the project period. Among the FUNVA officers, the following came to support the initial activity: Dr. Lito Britanico, Jun Nangit, Rose Nangit, Ethel Frogosa, Larry Lopez and Nowel Gallardo.

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Manila Bay clean-up campaign (The Manila Bulletin) (6 December 2010)

At least 8,000 volunteers, led by the United Nations and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) members, took part in the Manila Bay coastal clean-up as a highlight of the International Volunteers Day Sunday morning.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, guest of honor in the clean-up campaign, said that the event is a great opportunity for the people especially the younger ones to show their dedication not only to environment but also on other problems by means of volunteerism.’’

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On International Volunteer Day, we recognize millions of people around the world who give their time and talent to tackle global challenges: from volunteers working in their own communities on climate change adaptation and poverty reduction to those supporting global causes of peace, justice and the Millennium Development Goals.

Forty years ago, the United Nations General Assembly called for the establishment of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme. Since then, tens of thousands of UNV volunteers have contributed to our global mission, working with many UN organizations, programmes and agencies as well as peacekeeping and special political missions. I commend the engagement of these committed volunteers.

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This year, International Volunteer Day (IVD) comes at a vibrant time. ‘Share the Story’ is the theme of UNV’s IVD campaign. UNV is using social media to engage in a global online conversation focused on how volunteering contributes to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

People the world over joined UNV on Facebook yesterday (4 December) for a 24-hour online film festival to celebrate the worldwide impact of volunteerism. The festival showed volunteers in action, featured volunteer stories and hosted discussions on how volunteerism contributes to ending poverty.

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Today, as we mark International Volunteer Day, we celebrate the contributions volunteers are making to peace and development around the world, and towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

UNDP and United Nations Volunteers work with governments in developing countries to promote volunteer engagement, national volunteer service programmes, and volunteer centres. We believe that strategies supported by community-level action can help tackle development challenges. National volunteers can also bring valuable knowledge of the local context, allowing development partners to reach out to communities and strengthen the capacity of these communities to become active players in addressing the challenges they face.

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Looking back at IVD - a committee member's thoughts (April 2010)

By Kumiko Oishi (JOCV)

When the phone call came through asking me if I would take on the role in the IVD committee, honestly, I wondered if this could be fate. Several days before the call, I received a text message about the committee recruitment and instinctively thought it sounded interesting. However, I was scheduled to return to my home country in January.

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Kids invited to volunteer and protect Mother Earth (December 2009)

A global volunteer group recently reached out to children in a Benguet school to provide fun and advocate environmental awareness in observance of the International Volunteer Day (IVD).

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IVD events in Baguio made possible by generous contributions of:

Volunteering for our Planet: Mangrove Propagule Planting (December 2009)

By Jay N Anchera (VSO Bahaginan)

In Cebu, the organizing team composed of the CCEF (Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation) and the Rotaract Club of Mactan – CITE Chapter headed by Kenneth Sotto, VSO Bahaginan returned volunteer, decided to have a mangrove propagule planting in the Cebu Provincial Nursery.

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RP among top 5 in volunteer work vs climate change (December 2009)

MANILA, Philippines - The country registered more than one million hours of effort to tackle climate change and other environmental issues, the United Nations office here said.

The top five countries are India, which registered 53,917 hours, followed by Pakistan, 40,710, Nigeria, 31,647, Kenya, 32,277, and Philippines, 26,112.

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IVD events made possible by generous contributions of:

2009 National Volunteer Month (NVM) Kicks Off (December 2009)

Once again, the world took notice of the “bayanihan” spirit that Filipinos are known for when   Mr. Efren Peñaflorida, the 2008 Search For Outstanding Volunteer (SOV) awardee, brought home the CNN 2009 Hero of the Year Award. 

Efren proved that volunteerism works and it brings out the “hero” in all of us.  With the entire country fresh from the euphoria from the honor received by our volunteer hero, the month of December which has been designated as National Volunteer Month (NVM) is a timely sequel to remember and recognize the many “Efren Peñafloridas” in our midst.

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Volunteering for Our Planet: Environmental Cleanups in Celebration of International Volunteer Day (December 2009)

On 5 December, hundreds of local and foreign volunteers will join in global celebrations for International Volunteer Day with environmental cleanup activities in Marikina River and Manila Bay.  At 7am, an expected 300 volunteers will assemble at Marikina Social Action Center for post-Ondoy cleanup.  At 3pm, 200 volunteers will commence cleanup activities along Manila Bay, at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

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IVD2009 Philippines special page

IVD Message from Flavia Pansieri, UNV Executive Coordinator (December 2009)

This year the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme celebrates International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December with the theme volunteering for our Planet. UNV wants to highlight how important it is for people everywhere to get involved as volunteers in finding solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

IVD is celebrated two days before the start of the United Nations Conference in Copenhagen which will discuss, and hopefully agree on, collective action to address Climate Change. We encourage everyone to volunteer for our planet in support of the United Nations campaign to Seal the Deal on a Climate Change agreement.

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Global environment the winner, as volunteer contributions exceed 1 million hours (December 2009)

Bonn, Germany – Thousands of volunteers around the world have registered more than one million hours of effort to tackle climate change and other environmental issues, as part of a campaign to promote International Volunteer Day on 5 December.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme launched the global campaign ‘Volunteering for our Planet’ to promote voluntary effort for the environment. Since the website launched in October, tens of thousands of people have visited the website, www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org, to register the time that they spend on a voluntary basis, helping communities to adapt and innovate and to mitigate the causes of climate change.

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Every hour counts. Make yours count too. (November 2009)

Celebrate International Volunteer Day on 5 December by Volunteering for our Planet.

This December, we at United Nations Volunteers want to send a signal to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen that, across the world, people volunteer to protect the environment and take action against climate change.

Volunteers are essential to the environmental movement and we are a vital part of the global response to climate challenges. Be inspired by the actions of others and volunteer your time for our planet throughout 2010 and beyond. Please register on our campaign website: www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org

IVD2009 Steering Committee chalks-out plans

Newly-formed International Volunteer Day (IVD) Steering Committee had its first meeting on July 31, 2009, at the office of Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) to chalk-out future activities and plans.

Search for Outstanding Volunteers 2009 is on

Butuan City (10 July) -- The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) thru the SOV Regional Search Committees headed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga with its partner agencies are now accepting nominations of various volunteer group or individual for the National Outstanding Volunteer Award (NOVA) and Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award (VLAA) from the communities in Caraga region.

Search for Outstanding Volunteers 2009

The Search for Outstanding volunteers aims to highlight and recognize the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in building strong communities across the country through volunteerism.

The Search is open to all individuals of Filipino citizenship and Filipino volunteer organizations or local chapter organizations of foreign volunteer organizations that currently provide volunteer assistance in the Philippines.