Kofi Annan praises volunteer work

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, addresses volunteers around the world in his message for International Volunteers Day on December 5, 2006.

Each day, millions of volunteers make a statement that despite everything – despite poverty and hatred, despite apathy and the seeming intractability of some of the challenges we face – people can change the world for the better. Their ethos makes volunteerism one of the most visible – and most welcome – attributes of global citizenship. In ways both big and small, volunteers are transforming their communities and our world. Today, no such need is more urgent than attaining the Millennium Development Goals on schedule.

Read Kofi Annan’s full message.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is the largest international voluntary organization for girls and young women worldwide. WAGGGS honours and commends the thousands of volunteers who enable 10 million girls and young women to become responsible citizens of the world.

International Volunteer Day also gives us the opportunity to showcase our contribution towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The United Nations Volunteers programme launched the World Volunteer Web to support volunteer organizations. On the website you will find ideas, examples and tools for planning your own event or activity for International Volunteer Day. Have a look at the inspiring examples of events organized in the past years in many countries.

Tell us about great volunteers you know!

Use the comments to tell the world about people you admire for their achievements as a volunteer.

Your comments

Cathy Radice 14 December 2006 - 4.09AM (GMT)

I would like to tell you about Norma. This lady is 75 years young and has been volunteering with Girl Scouts since her daughters were brownies. She is the volunteer coordinator in South Carolina, USA. Since the people stationed at the fort usually move every year, she has the task of finding new leaders every year. If she can't get a leader or co-leader, then she starts the troops until someone volunteers to help. She is also volunteers with her church, tutors at the school and helps with her two grandsons. I would like to have her energy when I get to be 75. She inspires me to continue with Studio 2B group that I now act as an advisor for.

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