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★IYV 2001 |
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| Volunteer service has been a part of virtually every
civilization and society. Defined as a non-profit, non-wage and non-career
action that individuals carry out for the well-being of their neighbours,
community or society at large, it takes many forms from traditional
customs of mutual self-help to community responses in times of crisis
and effort for relief, conflict resolution and the eradication of
poverty. The concept includes local and national volunteer efforts,
as well as bilateral and international programmes, which operate across
borders. Volunteers have contributed significantly to the welfare
and progress of industrialized and developing countries and within
national and United Nations programmes of humanitarian assistance,
technical cooperation and promotion of human rights, democratization
and peace. Voluntary service features prominently in the activities
of NGOs, professional associations, trade unions and civic organizations.
Many campaigns in areas such as literacy, immunization and protection
of the environment are crucially dependent upon volunteer effort. |
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