Closing Ceremony of IYV 2001 in Nepal and Celebration of IVD 5th December At Staff College, Kathmandu, Nepal

Transcription

1 Closing Ceremony of IYV 2001 in Nepal and Celebration of IVD 5th December At Staff College, Kathmandu, Nepal Picture # 1: Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission and Chief Guest to the ceremony inaugurating the programme.

2 IVD / IYV 2001 Celebration Programme About 300 representatives from governmental agencies, volunteer organisations, NGOs, embassies, UN System, donor communities, INGOs, University, and volunteers came to the auditorium hall of Nepal Staff Administrative College in order to celebrate the International Volunteer Day and closing ceremony of International Year of Volunteers Actually it was a part of the celebration of the four programme planned for the day. Celebration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD) and closing ceremony of International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV) began early morning airing the greetings from Mr. Sher B. Deuba, Rt. Hon'ble Prime Minister of Nepal. Mr. Deuba delivered his greetings through Nepal TV, Nepal Radio to volunteers, volunteer organisations to celebrate the IVD and the closing ceremony of IYV 2001 in this country. In his message he expressed his appreciation for celebrating the whole year of IYV. "Government has been focusing to mobilise volunteers especially youth through NPC/National Development Volunteer Service, Nepal" says, Mr. Deuba. Another event was the messages from the Rt. Hon'ble Prime Minister, Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Hon'ble Member of National Planning Commission and Chairperson of IYV National Committee and Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General. The third event dedicated to recognise the 7 role model volunteers and 2 organisations. The ceremony organised for IYV closing rewarded Late Mr. Daya Bir Singh Kangsakar, Late Mr. Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, Late Mrs. Yogmaya Neupane, Late Mr. Om Prasad Gauchan, Mrs. Sita Pokharel, Mr. Indra B. Napit and Mrs. Indira Sapkota. The awards included plaque for late and plaque and shawl for living role model volunteers. Similarly, the Chief Guest of the ceremony, Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission, Nepal distributed letter of appreciation to ENRUDEC, Nepal and NGO Federation, Nepal for their contribution to promote IYV in Nepal (Table # 1). The fourth one was panel discussion live aired in Radio Sagarmatha, Kathmandu from hour local time. Dr. Vinod K. Shrestha, Sr. Advisor to National Planning Commission and Member of IYV Committee, Mr. Bhuvan Silwal, IYV National Coordinator and Mr. Shri Bhakta Basnet, Ex. UNV took part in the live discussion based on theme: Look at IYV 2001 in Nepal. Table # 2: Schedule for the IYV Closing Programme Time Activities By Welcome to Chief Guest Chief Guest: Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of NPC Chairing of the ceremony Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Hon'ble Member of NPC & Chairperson of IYV Committee for Nepal Welcome to the other guests Welcome Remarks Prof. Dr. T.R. Vaidhya, TU and Member of IYV National Steering Committee for Nepal Opening of the Ceremony Chief Guest: Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of NPC

3 14.15 Highlights on IYV Achievements in Nepal Dr. Pradip P. Upadhyay, Director of National Development Volunteer Service and Member- Secretary of IYV National Steering Committee, Nepal Recognition of Role Model Volunteers (plaque, shawl) Chief Guest: Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of NPC Speech Mr. Min B. Singh, Representative of VOs, Speech Mr. Hitkar Bir Singh Kansakar, Representative of Award Winner Role Model Volunteer & Representative Speech Mr. Dicken Higgins, UNV Programme Officer & Representative to UN System in Nepal Speech Mr. Takamichi Okabe, Minister of the Embassy of Japan Speech Chief Guest: Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of NPC Vote of Thanks Mr. Shanta Lal Mulmi, General Secretary, NGO Federation, Nepal Closing Speech Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Hon'ble Member of NPC & Chairperson of IYV Committee for Nepal Refreshments & Music Play by volunteer Meet the Press Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Dr. Pradip K. Upadhyay, Mr. Dicken Higgins, UNV PO & UN System Representative, Mr. Bhuvan Silwal, IYV National Coordinator, Mr. Shanta L. Mulmi, NGO Federation Secretary-General Materials produced and used for the ceremony: IYV Secretariat, Nepal produced brochure for the programme. Previously produced folders, newsflash, brochures as well as the materials sent by IYV Team, Bonn were all used in the programme. All the stocks have been finished here!!! Meet the Press Programme and Media Coverage: Interaction programme was organised with the representatives from all the leading newspapers in Kathmandu. Today's many leading newspapers have covered yesterday's ceremony in different ways. The country's top english, daily, national newspaper "The Kathmandu Post" has used the photo with IYV poster on their cover page. Week Long Programme There was a week long programme started on 29 November through 7 December 2001 inside and out side Kathmandu (Table # 2). The programme were mainly planned by the volunteer organisations and was coordinated by IYV Secretariat, Nepal in getting support from the Ad hoc Committee formed for the celebration. We have already received information that the programme planned upto yesterday were implemented as per plan.

4 Table # 2: Weekly Programme for celebration of IVD and IYV 2001 closing in Nepal Date Programme Location Concerned VOs/NGOs 30 Nov Volunteerism for School students Naxal CCSD 1 Dec Radio Programme at 6.20am Nepal Radio RAFHAJ 2 Dec Very small donation to Street Child Tahachal, Ktm UNV Nepal Staff Programme 3 rd Dec Mithila Yatra programme at pm Radio Diamond Club Sagarmatha Kantipur FM Radio 4 Dec am: panel discussion on volunteerism The Mayoj Taremam Programme by Hem Subedi 5 Dec Rt. Hon'ble PM's Message Ktm NPC, IYV Secretariat 1-7 Dec Celebration Ceremony of IVD and IYV The Staff College, IYV Secretariat, Nepal Closing in Nepal Ktm Training on NGO/VO capacity management Janakpur National Training Academy Soil Conservation, Quiz Contest, Meena Janakpur JWAS, SDF, HAN Communication Live discussion in Radio Sagarmatha on IYV 2001 in Nepal at hour. Kathmandu Radio Sagarmatha and IYV Secretariat, Nepal Interaction Programme, Film, Quiz Contest, Kohalpur, Banke ENRUDEC and other Speech Contest, Fruits distribution to NGOs, INGOs, VDCs. patients in Bheri Hospital, Volunteer Week Closing ceremony Introduction 1997, UN General Assembly passed a resolution proposed by the 123 countries including Nepal to proclaim 2001 as International Year of Volunteers (IYV). The objectives of IYV 2001 are recognition, facilitation, promotion, and networking for volunteer sector development. Following that resolution, representatives from the National Planning Commission (NPC), National Development Volunteer Service, UN Volunteers, Nepal Red Cross Society, Tribhuvan University, Ministry of Local Development, Ministry of Education, NGO Federation, RUNVAN, Social Welfare Council, Federation of Nepalese Chambers for Commerce and Industries, Japanese Embassy, IAVE, and international volunteer sending agencies in Nepal formed the IYV 2001 National Steering Committee (NSC) on August 1, The pioneer in Nepal's voluntary service sector was Tulsi Mehar, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi who set up Nepal Gandhi Smarak Charkha Pracharak Guthi (the Spinning Wheel Propagating Trust) in Another milestone in the history of the volunteering history of Nepal was the establishment of Bhukampa Sewa Dal (Earthquake Relief Group) to cope with the 1834 earthquake. However, Tulsi Mehar, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi began. Additionally, the first formal service providing organisation, however, was Paropakar, started by late Mr. Daya Bir Singh Kansakar who was also first blood donor in Nepal. The IYV Secretariat recently conducted a survey of Volunteer based Organisations across Nepal through Samuhik Abhiyan, a partner NGO. The 207 agencies now functioning as VOs or partially involved in mobilising volunteers have altogether mobilised 758,811 volunteers and 25 VOs have more than 12 years of experience. Certain VOs, however, have existed in many areas for a long time as charity and welfare missions in one form or another. The nine International Volunteer Sending Agencies in Nepal (VSAs) at work in Nepal have brought more than 7541 volunteers so far for national development. Peace Corps has attracted the largest number of volunteers while SPW and UN Volunteers stand second and third respectively. Although we lack precise data on the national volunteers used respectively by the VSAs, there is clear evidence that they have been successful in mobilising volunteers. Among the VSAs, the UN Volunteer is the only organisation that sends

5 Nepali volunteers abroad. So far, 1200 Nepalese have worked abroad under the UN flag for different programmes and missions as UN Volunteers. Achievements through 2001 Recognition: Traditionally, many events are organised each year by various organisations to honour the role model volunteers but information on such activities as scantly available annually. The Government rewards volunteers and social workers through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare and the Social Welfare Council annually. This year, the Bijay Shree award was established and a role model volunteer has been awarded. The Social Welfare Council has recognised Father Watrin for his long volunteer service in this country. Preparatory work has been done to publish the first book in this sector, Nepal Volunteer Book Facilitation: Nepal Tax Laws allows the taxpayers to donate a certain amount a tax-free to the volunteering sector for social development. The Government has recently taken steps to make the National Development Volunteer Service (NDVS) an autonomous body for the mobilisation of national volunteers, especially for poverty alleviation and Dalit people's. The centre also aims at functioning as a central volunteer resource centre in the long run. The Government has also been working to enhance the policies and programmes to promote volunteering in the forthcoming 10th Five-Year Plan. Networking: Many volunteering related organisations in this country have been working on their own for many years. With the coordination of the Networking Task Group and an initiation of the NGO Federation and Samuhik Abhiyan, agreement has been made to set up an NGO Federation Volunteer Mobilisation Group and under the existing national network of NGO Federation. In order to facilitate the demand and supply of volunteers, the IYV Secretariat with financial support from UN Volunteer Programme, Nepal has recently launched a new web domain IYV Secretariat, Nepal has recently prepared a Volunteer Database of more than 300 volunteering-related organisations. Promotion: Volunteering has a strong traditional background in this country. Dissemination of printed materials namely IYV brochures, events reports, newsflashes, posters, and pamphlets was done through the existing networks, e.g., NGO Federation, Samuhik Abhiyan, etc. Following the national level volunteer exhibition in Kathmandu in December 2000, ENRUDEC, Bank organised a regional development level volunteer exhibition on March 2001 in Nepalganj. Khir Bhojan (i.e. Rice Pudding) programme for the old, street drama programme against smoking, a new Mobile Food Programme for street children, clothes for poorest children, Mithila Cultural programme, and tree plantation were other activities. The media including the newspapers, TV, and Radios covered the IYV activities during the year. Besides this, articles appeared in the national media. Three bulletins of Samuhik Abhiyan, Labourer Women and Child Welfare Council, and ENRUDEC were dedicated to IYV. IYV brochures were published twice. Four IYV pamphlets, two national calendars, two posters, three IYV T-shirts were also produced and distributed/ or sold this year. More than 22 interaction programmes and consultation meetings have successfully been organised for various purposes related to IYV and volunteering in Nepal since August Future Priorities: Strengthening of volunteering networking in Nepal Establishment of a Volunteer Resource Centre, an Information System, and dissemination of volunteering-related information Capacity enhancement of Volunteer Organisations Documentation of Volunteering-related information in a systematic way Review of legal provisions related to volunteering The 10th Five-Year Plan to enhance volunteerism favourable policies & programmes. Forum for Coordination of Volunteering Sector (FOCUS) proposed. Human Development Report to incorporate volunteerism as a thematic issue

6 Picture # 2: Mr. Ligal, Chief Guest distributes the plaque to the son of late role model volunteer Mr. Daya Bir singh Kangsakar. Role Model Volunteers Role Model Volunteers recognised were Late Mr. Daya Bir Singh Kangsakar Late Mr. Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, Late Mrs. Yogmaya Neupane, Late Mr. Om Prasad Gauchan, Mrs. Sita Pokharel, Mr. Indra B. Napit and Mrs. Indira Sapkota. The awards included plaque for late and plaque and shawl for living role model volunteers. Similarly, the Chief Guest of the ceremony, Mr. Prithvi Raj Ligal, Hon'ble Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission, Nepal distributed letter of appreciation to ENRUDEC, Nepal and NGO Federation, Nepal for their contribution to promote IYV in Nepal. Photo # 3: Mr. Ligal, Chief Guest awarding the plaque and shawl to the role model volunteer Mrs. Indira Sapkota.

7 Speeches Volunteer representative Photo # 4: Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Chairperson of IYV National Committee for Nepal addressing the ceremony. Photo # 5: Mr. Takamichi Okabe, Minister of the Embassy of Japan addressing the ceremony. Messages for the Day Kofi Annan Prime Minister MMB Sharon Capeling-Alikija

8 Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel Volunteer contact organisations in Nepal Landmark UN resolutions