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International Year of Volunteers

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If A Dog Had Been Your Teacher

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INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS,

The Year 2001 has been proclaimed as the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) through a resolution passed at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly held on 20 November 1997. It invites governments and all organisations to collaborate and identify ways and means of enhancing the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteer service in the preparations for and observance of the year.

In Malaysia Yayasan SALAM Malaysia has been appointed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as the focal point for the launch, coordination and implementation of programs in conjunction with the IYV. The IYV is a key means to promote voluntarism in Malaysia -- to increase the number of people, especially youths, to be involved in voluntary work, increase the number of meaningful opportunities for volunteer involvement and seek to enhance recognition from the government on the role of voluntarism in the social development process of the country.

We have accepted Yayasan SALAM's invitation to be one of the partner organizations with the IYV Secretariat to support them on the program and will keep all members informed of our participation once confirmed. The key programs proposed for the launch of IYV in Malaysia include:

• Launch by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 9 December 2000 (Global launch by Kofi Annan expected on 5 December in New York)

• An exhibition of key NGOs at KLCC/Mid-Valley or other mall

• Establishment of an NGO portal to inform the public about NGOs, their programs and invite participation and volunteering for the programs

• Preparation of a "Things to Do" kit to be distributed widely to promote voluntarism among groups, especially students and youths

• Attempt to get space on electronic/print media to run a series of articles/program on the NGOs and their contribution to social development

• A National Symposium on Voluntarism and Caring Society

Yayasan SALAM Malaysia can be contacted at:

8 Jalan Utara, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: (603) 758 4021
Fax: (603) 758 4031

Website: www.salam.org.my
E-mail: yayasalam@tmnet.my