Devon Dick
RECENTLY, JAMAICA observed International Volunteers Day with many parishes hosting different events such as church services and award ceremonies, at which certificates of appreciation were distributed to hundreds of organisations and individual volunteers.
Volunteerism is important to Jamaica because it is the means of survival for many organisations. Volunteers, especially women, mainly manage the staff of churches. Service clubs, Scouts, Girls Guides, Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade and many organisations that help the vulnerable, aged, infirm and outcast depend on volunteers.
Globally, the United Nations (UN) has been focusing on volunteers for the past 30 years. The United Nations Volunteerism (UNV) programme supports sustainable development through the promotion of volunteerism and the mobilisation. UNV has been able to mobilise 30,000 men and women worldwide in its efforts
to encourage the use of volunteerism as part of the development modality.
UNV has a proven track record in promoting sustainable development through a broad range of activities such as protecting the environment, fighting poverty, caring for people with HIV/AIDS, promoting community advancement, reinforcing disaster preparedness, stimulating income generation and building capacity and applying information technologies in helping to overcome development challenges.
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY
Since 1972, when the programme began in Jamaica, more than 150 volunteers from 12 different countries, have supported a range of development efforts here.
The spectrum of sectors covered is broad, including health, education, agriculture, architecture, strengthening community income generation initiatives, town planning and community mobilisation.
In 1985, December 5 was designated International Volunteer Day by the UN General Assembly and has been so observed since then. On that day, the local chapter seeks to heighten awareness of the important contribution of volunteer service, thereby stimulating more people in all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers.
In the wake of Hurricane Ivan, the activities this year focused on honouring volunteers who are providing assistance to people whose lives were severely disrupted by the hurricane.
In collaboration with Yvonne Coke's Hands Across Jamaica initiative, and the Custodes in each parish, individuals were awarded for their outstanding support to the post hurricane relief and reconstruction efforts.
Another effort that needs volunteers is the compulsory education campaign. It is stated that due to lack of support services, the government cannot implement and enforce compulsory education. But bearing in mind the success that has attended the efforts at compulsory attendance, it is necessary to make attempts at compulsory education even though all might not be in place.
Volunteers from the churches and other groups could help to monitor the attendance pattern of students because in every nook and cranny of Jamaica there are churches that have had a history of giving volunteer services, especially in the field of education.
The Ministry of Education could harness the human resources within churches, either through denominations or Ministers fraternal, to soft launch a programme of compulsory education.
Volunteerism is essentially not only about giving service without expecting a profit, but giving service just for the love of people and the world.
Christmas reminds us that God so loved the world that he gave his Son so that none will perish. In thanksgiving to God, each citizen should give voluntary service in a worthwhile organisation, especially in the field of education.
Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of From Rebellion to Riot; The Church in nation-building.
