The U.N. believes that voluntary action is the core of a social capital and development in the society. Voluntary actions are spontaneous where volunteers come forward to volunteer for different programs such as assisting victims of floods or earthquakes. Many people volunteer to contribute towards the governance of an organization and at grass root associations which remains invisible to most people. But still, their contributions cannot be ignored.

Since 1985, the United Nations established December 5 as the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development and since then every year, on this day volunteer organizations as well as individuals are offered an opportunity to show their contributions towards the social and economic development at the local, national and international levels. It is an observance day and not a public holiday.

Events

This United Nations Volunteer programme hopes to encourage people to work towards the voluntary contribution and stimulates people to offer their services for the well being of the community. Since its inception, governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals celebrate the International Volunteer Day by engaging in a number of activities which includes:

• Rallies and parades
• Voluntary community projects and competitions
• Award ceremonies to show respect to volunteers who have contributed towards their community.
• ‘Time Donation’ campaigns aiming at people pledging to contribute a few hours of their life towards voluntary work.
• Business adapting voluntary programs as part of their corporate responsibility.

The various activities and events organized on this day helps in the promotion of the U.N. goals to

• Eradicate poverty
• Attain universal primary education
• Promote women empowering
• Promote gender equality and remove discrimination on the basis of sex and color.
• Improve maternal health and decrease child mortality rate
• Controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental stability

Millions of people take part in the U.N. programme through their Online Volunteering service, where the volunteers can contribute towards the sustainable human development by supporting the various development activities organized by organizations.

Some of the type of volunteering groups who has helped this initiative are –

Bpeace – They help people looking to start their own business in Afghanistan, Rwanda and El Salvador.

SCORE – This non-profit organization was set of by volunteers who help entrepreneur start their own business or expand their existing business.

Austin Free-Net – Through this initiative, volunteers offers computer training to people so that it helps them to find jobs.

KIVA – Kiva volunteers works with microfinance institutions in five continents to provide loans through donations received by them, to people who do not have access to traditional banks.

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Centre – This organization provides training and support services to unprivileged men and women in the San Fransisco Bay Area in California so that they can get jobs or start their own business.

These are just some of the various non-profit organizations created by volunteers to encourage economic and social developmental around the world. If you are planning to raise funds for your charity, you may want to start planning your trip with mytravelmaps.com to get great offers.