Let's go with the volunteers!

A number of NGOs joined into a Coalition for promoting the Law on volunteering and volunteering activities, have launched the 2009 national volunteering week with the slogan: “Let's go with the volunteers!” At a news conference hosted by Info-Prim Neo, NGO representatives described the drive as the biggest annual event on promoting volunteering in Moldova. The national week will unfold from May 29 to June 5 and pursues to enhance civic responsibility in promoting and unfolding volunteering activities. The director of the “Tineri si Liberi” Resources Center, Antonita Fonari, has talked about the results obtained during the national volunteering week in 2008, in which politicians were involved. This year, the coalition will put to work the stars from showbiz and mass-media. “We have confirmations from about six music stars, who say they will join us,” Antonita Fonari said. Other Moldovan stars are still to give their assent. Eduard Mihalas, the executive manager of the association “Youth for the right to life”, the organization holding the secretariat of the Coalition for promoting the law on volunteering and volunteering activities, stressed the need to develop the cooperation relationships between the NGOs in strengthening volunteering and making social capital. Mihalas assesses that the volunteering activities bring a contribution estimated at 0.07- 0.16% of the GDP. The representative of the Youth National Council, Sandu Coica, has said “volunteering is a welcome opportunity for the youths to gain experience and skills in the sectors they are interested in.” Mariana Matfei, a coordinator of the association “Motivatie” described as positive models of social integration and active participation in the community the involvement of disabled youths as volunteers as trainers of active recuperation. The representative of the NGO “Serviciu pentru pace”, Florin Turcanu, has said a important role is to be played by the international volunteers, who facilitate intercultural and experience exchange. The financial support to organize the National Volunteering Week is granted by the Soros Foundation-Moldova and by the Swedish International Development Agency.