● Background Information

Volunteer service, as an important part of social endeavor, is gaining more attention and support in the whole world. Volunteers make valuable contributions to socio-economic development of the world in the fields such as humanitarian assistance, technical cooperation, social welfare, education, environmental protection, health and etc. In 1985, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the December 5th of each year as the International Volunteers Day - the day for volunteers all over the world. In this day, many countries in the world organize various activities to celebrate International Volunteers Day and promote volunteerism and voluntary service.

In recent years, volunteer service in China is developing very fast and gains great attention and support from Chinese government. More and more citizens are willing to volunteer and various voluntary organizations are established. How to effectively manage this increasing volunteer group? How to make a full use of the rich volunteer resources? These questions have been aroused great attentions by volunteer service managers and practitioners.

China Forum on Volunteering and Welfare was initiated by the Research Center for Volunteering and Welfare of Beijing University (RCVW) in order to strengthen academic exchanges on volunteering and social development. With the supports from all social circles, RCVW has organized six sessions of forums successfully since its founding in July 2002. To celebrate this year's International Volunteer Day, RCVW and other volunteer organizations will jointly organize the Seventh China Forum on Volunteering and Welfare. International and national well-known experts will be invited to give speeches on development and management of volunteer service in the forum. The Forum will be a unique opportunity and platform for international and national scholars and practitioners to exchange their views and experiences on volunteering.

● Mission of the Forum

With the opportunity of International Volunteer Day, the Forum aims at promoting volunteerism, strengthening international and national exchanges on volunteering, keeping abreast of international and national volunteer service development and effective way of management, and promoting volunteer service in China.

● Theme of the Forum

Volunteer Service Development and Management

● Date/Time

13:30-17:40Pm, December 5, 2003

● Venue

North Wing Building, Beijing University Library.

● Participants

Representatives from related national volunteer organizations, non-government organizations and philanthropic organizations, volunteer representatives from Beijing-based universities, related researchers and teachers, representatives of United Nations Development Programme, UN Volunteers, international volunteer organizations and foundations, international and national experts and scholars in the field of volunteering, and journalists from related media, etc. There are approximately 100 peoples in the forum. '

● Organization of the Forum

Organized by:
Research Center for Volunteering and Welfare
China Young Volunteers Guiding Center
China Social Work Association
Beijing International Volunteers Association
Beijing University Committee of Communist Youth League

Co-organized by:
Beijing Volunteers Organization
Beijing Student Federation
Young Volunteers Guiding Center of Beijing University

Sponsored by:
United Nations Development Programme
China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges
Beijing University Politics Base of Ministry of Education

● Exhibition Profile

There will be an area during the Forum to present the achievement and development of volunteer service worldwide and to show and share projects, events and ideas through posters, pictures, books and promotional materials. National and international volunteer organizations, NGOs and philanthropic organizations are welcomed to participate.