Report: WSIS Volunteer Family Nigeria

Conclusion

Volunteering across borders has its major differences with little knowledge from Nigeria on Volunteering, research has shown that in Europe volunteering is well acknowledged with public announcements played on the television or over the radio recognizing the contributions volunteers make to society and encouraging more people to get involved.

There is much more to do, if volunteering is recognised this much in Europe by an important part of its society, then the same should apply to societies in Nigeria and indeed Africa, we need to advocate that a culture of volunteering, of helping one another, exists in Nigeria, and that too needs to be recognized and equally cultivated in all developmental sectors.

It is clearly evident that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be achieved if people do not involve themselves through voluntary action, In view of the above the WSIS Volunteer family in Nigeria commits itself to the promotion of volunteerism and also the strengthening and repositioning of Volunteers, Volunteer involving organisations, Volunteer organisations and National Volunteer Services.

NNNGO Volunteer-Wale Fawole presenting goodwill messages from UNICEF Voices of Youth Forum, US and Eve Sullivan of Parents Forum, Massachusetts, USA at a workshop on Children and the UN organized by RVOY in collaboration with the ICT4D kiddies club-a project of the WSIS Volunteer Family in Nigeria
We strongly recommend:

• A sensitization programme, seminar or conference on volunteering and ICTs between now and December 5, 2005 when the International Volunteer day would be celebrated.
• An active online discussion group on volunteering and ICTs, MDGs and other Developmental issues
• An active International network of Volunteers, Volunteer organisations and Volunteer involving organisations.
• An e-newsletter on Volunteering and Volunteer activities worldwide on ICT and the MDGs
• A national network of Volunteers, Volunteer organisations and Volunteer involving organisations.
• An effective volunteer exchange programme on ICT4D.
• A dedicated and regularly updated website page on www.worldvolunteerweb.org and www.worldwidevolunteer.org
• Mobilize funds for Volunteer activities at both National and International levels for ICT4D activities.

All recommendations could be linked to that of existing networks and where none exists it should be retained and acted upon without further delay.