Stars invited to do volunteer work

All those that want to do volunteer work can take part in the activities that will be carried out during the National Volunteer Week 2009 themed “Join the Volunteers!” The activities are organized by the Coalition for Law and Volunteering Promotion. Eduard Mihalas, executive director of the Association “Youth for the Right to Live” that forms part of the Coalition, has told Info-Prim Neo that during the National Volunteer Week that will be held between May 29 and June 5, the volunteers will be engaged in different activities. “Last year, we engaged more politicians, but this year we try to attract persons from show business. By involving the stars in volunteer activities, we will promote models of civic participation and responsibility,” Mihalas said. Thirty MPs, ministers, deputy ministers, councilors, mayors and other public persons were engaged in volunteer activities in 2008. They showed the people examples of social responsibility. Among the officials that provided volunteer services were Marian Lupu, Vitalia Pavlicenco, Valentina Buliga, Dorin Chirtoaca, Oleg Cernei, Svetlana Chifa and others. The public persons provide about 220 hours of volunteer time, while the volunteers from NGOs – 1,200 hours. This is equal to 30,000 lei. The Coalition for Law and Volunteering Promotion was founded in August 2008 by NGOs working in the volunteering sector: the Association “Youth for the Right to Live”, the Resource Center “Young and Free”, the National Youth Council of Moldova, the Resource Center of Moldovan Nongovernmental Organizations for Human Rights (CreDO), the Association “Motivation” and the Association “Service for Peace”. The Coalition aims to promote and facilitate the involvement of youth in volunteer activities.