Universal Declaration of Volunteering

Universal Declarations of Volunteering

Gathered together through the initiative of the IAVE (International Association for Volunteer Effort) in the Live90 World Congress in Paris, the volunteers developed a universal declaration of volunteering, as a result of the proposal presented in the World Congress in Washington in 1988.

http://www.iave.org/es/content/declaracion-universal-sobre-el-voluntariado

http://www.iave.org/es

INTRODUCTION

Taking into account the large differences in norms and practices, the letter represents a declaration of intentions. Right now, perhaps only its partial adoption will be possible.

Volunteurope stimulates the promotion of voluntary action and supports the work of volunteers. The promotion of the concept of volunteer service includes…

A.-PREamble

1.The volunteers inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, are committed to act as intruments of economic, sociocultural, and environmental development in a constantly changing world. They embrace the principle that “every person has the right to free assembly and peaceful association”.

Volunteering:

-is a voluntary decision that is supported by personal motivations and choices;

-is a way for citizens to actively participate in the life of their communities;

-is generally demonstrated in an action and in a movement organized by an association;

-contributes to improving the quality of life and creating a more supportive world;

-responds to the main challenges facing a society that strives to achieve a more just and peaceful world;

-contributes to the strengthening of balanced social and economic development, including the creation of new employment opportunities and professions.

B. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF VOLUNTEERING

1. Volunteers put into practice the following basic fundamental principles:

They respect the dignity of all mankind and their cultures;

They offer mutual, selfless help and participate individually or with associations with a spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood.

They are considerate of the needs of the communities and work with them to bring about solutions to their own problems;

They have personal development, the acquisition of new knowledge, and the expansion of abilities as goals of their volunteer work. These goals facilitate initiative and creativity, allowing each person to be an active member and not merely a beneficiary of volunteer action;

They stimulate social responsibility and motivate solidarity in families, communities, and in the international community.

2. Considering these fundamental principles, volunteers should:

-Encourage individual commitment so that it can be converted into a collective movement;

-Actively support their association, consciously adhering to its objectives, and informing themselves about its politics and operations;

-Cooperate in a spirit of mutual comprehension and esteem with all of the members of the association;

-Accept the necessary training;

-Work ethically in the fulfillment of their functions

3. Taking into account the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the basic principles of volunteering, the associations should:

• Elaborate articles of association for the development of volunteer activity;
• Establish criteria for the participation of volunteers;
• Monitor each of its members the assure the observance of their clearly defined functions;
• Delegate in each of the activities they select, assuring that it is given the appropriate capacity and support;
• Periodically evaluate the results
• Adequately assume the coverage of the risks incurred by the volunteers in carrying our their work and the harm they could involuntarily cause third-parties;
• Facilitate the income of volunteers by providing, among other things, reimbursements for expenses incurred by their volunteering;
• Establish a way for both parties to terminate the mutual commitment.

C. PROCLAMATION

The volunteers, gathered together through the initiative of the International Association of Volunteer Efforts (IAVE) in the World Congress, declare their faith in volunteer action as a creative and mediating force:

To respect the dignity of all people and their captivity to exercise their rights of citizenship and to create their own development;

To contribute to the solution of social and environmental problems;

To construct a more humane and just society through worldwide cooperation;

Therefore they invite Governments, International Institutions, businesses, and the media to join us as collaborated to create an international field that promotes and supports volunteering that is effective, accessible to all, and a symbol of solidarity between men and nations.

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european letter for volunteers

a BaSIC declaration

Volunteurope proposes this letter, to be adopted on a voluntary basis, for all of the organizations that, in some way, are connected to the work of volunteers; for the administration and for those volunteers.

INTRODUction

Taking into account the large differences in norms and practices, the letter represents a declaration of intentions. Right now, perhaps only its partial adoption will be possible. The promotion of the concept of volunteer service includes:

• An attitude that accepts responsibilities in activities for and with other people, as well as the development of active participation of these activities.
• The development of systems that complement the help of family, friends, neighbors, and companions.
• Volunteer work can be defined in different ways, but these definitions should include, at least, the following elements:
• Lack personal economic interest
• Develop itself in a more or less organized framework
• Be of free choice, and express itself through peaceful means

ELEMENTS of the letter

 1. Volunteer work is valuable for the community because:

It is an opportunity for personal contribution and participation in the life of the community

It improves the quality of society

It defends, peacefully, the interests of people and groups that are unfavorable situations

It contributes to a democratic channel to solve the needs of society

Volunteer work can be done autonomously or as a complement to professional services in order to renew, expand, or support them.

Volunteer work is done by women and men; in the fields of humanitarian service, culture, and citizen action.

2. Every citizen has the right to perform volunteer work that is suitable to his/her capacities. This is a right and not an obligation.

 3. The right to perform volunteer work does not mean that anyone can carry out all types of work. The organizations can select volunteers who are suited to perform the necessary tasks. The development large range of opportunities should be promoted, from very simple jobs to more complicated ones, so that there is a place for every interested person.

 4. Volunteer work should be a privileged for certain groups in society. This means that no citizen should be excluded from volunteer work because of economic problems (expenses) or social handicaps, such as being unemployed, being young or elderly, being disabled, or belonging to a migrant group.