VOLUNTARY Service Overseas (VSO) is the world’s leading independent international development organization that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.
VSO Philippines organized the series of activities in Davao City to celebrate its 60th anniversary and take on the call of the United Nations in celebrating volunteering worldwide on International Volunteers Day (IVD). The first event started on November 17 thru Painting for PEACE, the second on November 23 during the Mangrove Tree Planting & Coastal Clean Up and the third an exhibit on Volunteering on the IVD today December 5 at Gaisano Mall of Davao in Bajada, Davao City.
The International Volunteers Day aims to build awareness among the youth and the community about the values of giving and sharing your skills for the greater good.
These volunteering activities showed us the importance of volunteerism in local development and in sustaining peaceful, healthy and green environment, and harmony with our community. Local volun-teerism plays an important role in instilling a positive and productive interaction of people congregating in a neighbourhood or community.
In this celebration, commendable contributions of local volunteers and partners from Davao City Government, Ateneo de Davao University AGSCA, Buhagin LGU Council, Buhangin Central Elem School, Camera Club of Southern Philippines, CENRO, Extra Mile Youth Volunteers, Gaisano Mall of Davao, IDIS and Bantay Bukid, Helena Z. Benitez School, Philippine Eagle Foundation, Philippine Women’s Col-lege of Davao, Rizal Memorial Colleges Peers & Chorale, Royeca Ballet, Sitio Malamboon of Barangay 76-A Bucana, Sustainable Davao Movement, and VSO Returned Volunteers
Time and time again, volunteering as a process helps build and promote peace and development, miti-gates the impact of climate change, fights poverty, promotes clean and green environment, and as well as build progressive and vibrant neighbourhood.
“Volunteers from the Philippines are really important to VSO’s work around the world. We recruit 50 Filipinos a year to work across 24 countries in Asia and Africa, doing vital jobs in health, education, social and economic development. It’s a superb opportunity for Filipinos to give something to other developing countries and bringing back valuable learnings that they can apply to communities in the Philippines upon their return,” VSO Philippines Head of Programme Arlene Mahinay said.
VSO will continue to make steps in fighting poverty thru volunteering by sharing skills to change the lives of others.