Statement from the Executive Director of UN Volunteers

This year the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme celebrates International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December with the theme ‘Volunteering for our Planet’. UNV wants to highlight how important it is for people everywhere to get involved as volunteers in finding solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

IVD is celebratedtwo days before the start of the United Nations Conference in Copenhagen which will discuss, and hopefully agree on, collective action to address Climate Change. We encourage everyone to volunteer for our planet in support of the United Nations campaign to Seal the Deal on a Climate Change agreement.

Volunteers played an important role in the environmental movement from its very beginning. They recognized that individual and collective action based on free will was necessary to raise awareness about environmental action and spur governments to action.

I encourage all people and organizations to celebrate International Volunteer Day and to support Volunteering for our Planet. Please go to www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org and tell us how you contribute voluntarily to protecting our planet. We are tracking how many hours volunteers contribute worldwide; they will send a powerful message to delegates in Copenhagen that committed citizens, everywhere, support a climate change agreement and people are taking action as volunteers to be a part of the solution.

Lots of 'Yummies' for Lifeline Nelson's volunteers

Lifeline Nelson will provide extra yummy food and will put notices in their daybook and special "warm fuzzies" book to acknowledge and thank the 43 volunteers who provide their 24/7 counselling service. They will also provide yummies to the volunteer team who fundraise for Lifeline and other community organisations through volunteering at the Lifeline Goodwill shop in Nelson.

Volunteer Whanganui

Volunteer Whanganui will be at Trafalgar Square giving away free scones to anyone who so desires one, from 10 am till 12 pm (or until the scones run out) whatever happens first.

Special Olympics volunteers will be active on IV Day

Twenty two volunteers with the Wellington Special Olympics team will be actively volunteering on International Volunteer Day together with hundreds of other volunteers from around New Zealand.

The four yearly Special Olympics National Games will be held in Palmerston North from 2-6 November. One thousand Special Olympics athletes will be participating in the games. There will be 500 volunteer coaches plus 500 event volunteers ensuring the games are a great success. These volunteers will be at the games for five days many having to take annual or unpaid leave to be there.

One of the volunteer coaches 14 year old Max Stromer from Auckland was featured on Close Up on Monday. Here is a link to the clip, www.tvnz.co.nz/close-up/s2009-11-30-video-3206332 and select chapter 4.

Special lunch for 150 volunteers from Nelson region

There will be a special lunch for 150 volunteers from around the Nelson/Tasman region. This will be held at the Monaco Resort in Stoke on Monday 7 December.

The volunteers attending the lunch have been nominated by organisations from around the region who were approached earlier this year. Local companies have sponsored tables and generously given items for spot prizes which will be given out during the course of the lunch.

Guest speaker will be Frank Bunce, well known former All Black who is very supportive of volunteering.

Pictures will be posted after the event.

Pregnancy Help Inc. Canterbury. New Zealand

We are thanking and acknowledging our volunteers on the 9th December with a morning tea. From the volunteers who help in the Drop In Centre to the many volunteers who knit and sew many fantastic things for the babies.

Joe Bennett guest speaker for Canterbury Presbyterian Support volunteers in Rangiora

Columnist Joe Bennett will be the guest speaker at a special International Volunteer Day afternoon tea for the Presbyterian Support volunteers from Christchurch and North Canterbury. They will gather at the John Knox Centre in Christchurch on Monday December 7.