International Volunteer Day (IVD) is held annually on 5 December to raise awareness on the important role volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world.
IVD is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly and is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, government authorities and the private sector.
The theme for IVD 2019 is “Volunteer for an inclusive future”. Volunteering frequently provides opportunities for people, particularly those often excluded to concretely impact their own lives and play a role in their communities by volunteering their time and skills. Through volunteerism, communities often experience strengthened solidarity and inclusion.
The strength of volunteers in protecting their communities is especially evident in the number of CFA volunteers who have given up their time in recent weeks to be a part of strike teams in New South Wales and Queensland and those who have contributed to CFA’s surge capacity in other ways while remaining at home. To read VFBV CEO Adam Barnett’s article on CFA Surge Capacity from the VFBV November 2019 newsletter click here.
If you know a CFA volunteer who has strengthened their community through volunteering, consider nominating them for a Spirit of CFA Award, applications close on 3 January 2020. More information about the Spirit of CFA Awards can be found here.
More stories promoting the value of CFA volunteers and the contributions they make to their local communities:
