The IFRC message, made available through the Guyana Red Cross Society, noted that volunteers are serving in increasingly difficult and dangerous situations, and declared that “the safety of our volunteers must always be paramount and never be compromised; we rely on your commitment to ensure this is always the case in your society.” “On this day we pay tribute to the contribution of the hundreds of millions of volunteers for their tireless contribution to vulnerable people and wish them continued meaning and fulfilment in their service,” the IFRC said.
The International Federa-tion also assured that it will continue to give support through extended services such as the volunteer security training, psychological support and accident insurance, but more needs to be done. “We would also like to encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the importance of volunteerism in your society. The increase in the number of societies applying for the IFRC Volunteering Development Award shows that many of you have already recognized the importance of such investment,” the message stated.
Congratulations were extended to the Mali Red Cross, the recipient of this year’s award.
Meanwhile, the year 2011 will mark the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001. The IFRC said further that this IYV+10 will indeed be an opportunity for the Red Cross and Red Crescent to “showcase the diversity, professionalism and depth of volunteering in our movement and offer the chance for others to join us.”
To take every advantage of this special year, the statement continued, the preparation must begin now and the IFRC urged persons to join in preparing for the IYV+10 in 2011 which will be a good opportunity for following-up and reinforcing commitments and decisions on volunteering and ensuring that this great opportunity, for both national societies and volunteers, is not missed.
