Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Filipinos are natural volunteers. We call it bayanihan, the spirit of collective action to help others, action which comes naturally during times of community service and natural disaster. So, the call for volunteerism is always heeded and translates to collective action that has brought changes to communities and to peoples’ lives.
Around the world, organized volunteerism has become a powerful force for action and development. The United Nations General Assembly in 1985 had mandated the observance of International Volunteers Day (IVD) on Dec. 5. This year, volunteers around the world were acknowledged and the spirit of volunteerism promoted — recognizing the importance of people-led solutions to common challenges.
“Volunteerism is one of the most vital delivery mechanisms for social, environmental and economic transformation, ensuring a lasting impact with its ability to change people’s mindsets, attitudes and behaviors. People become actors of change and equal partners in the attainment of local, national and international progress towards sustainable human development and global peace,” the UN program said.
This year, the observance of IVD, which the Philippines has extended throughout the month of December, focuses on the theme – The power of collective action: If everyone did.
“If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place. Imagine more than eight billion of us volunteering. Limitless possibilities for sustainable development – food and education for everyone, clean environment and good health, inclusive and peaceful societies, and more” the UN said.
The UN records the collective action of volunteerism: The monthly number of volunteers aged 15 years and over amounts to 862.4 million worldwide. Most volunteer work continues to be arranged informally between individuals, with 14.3 percent of the global population participating, while 6.5 percent of working-age people worldwide engage in formal volunteering via an organization or association. A significant percentage of people carry out multiple types of volunteer work. While formal volunteers are mostly men, informal volunteers are more likely to be women.
In the Philippines, the month of December was declared as the National Volunteer Month (NVM) by Presidential Proclamation No. 55, series of 1998. Activities are under the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency. The NVM celebration aims to build nationwide public awareness and appreciation of volunteerism and the role it plays in social, economic and political development of the country. In Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, the day was celebrated as ‘Bayanihan Day’.
During the Christmas season, many volunteer groups are involved in community service. One of them is a group of mountaineers who trekked for hours to an isolated barangay in the mountains of Itogon, Benguet, to deliver food, clothing, and building materials to the community which help its members when they hike for leisure. Another is a group of volunteers in Negros who has been conducting feeding programs for malnourished children in a dozen barangays in the south.
Of course we are aware of the presence of trained volunteers who are most prominent during times of natural disasters. They are among the first to respond to search and rescue operations, and stay on during the village rehabilitation programs.
If you are not part of any volunteer group, perhaps it is time to join one and contribute to making the world a better place because of the power of collective action – if everyone did!
“On this important day, let’s re-commit to ensuring that all people can lend their energies to shaping a better future for all people and the planet we share. Let’s stand with volunteers, everywhere.” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
