WOSM: Today is the International Volunteer Day

5th of December was set as the International Volunteer Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. The theme for 2012 is ‘Celebrate Volunteering!’. International Volunteer Day offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) said on their website that ‘on IVD 2012, we celebrate our commitment and hope for a better world’.

The Scout Movement, with its millions of volunteers from around the world, and with a Vision of ‘Creating a Better World’, has been contributing to this goal – everyday of its existence for over 105 years now. UN Secretary General, and a Scout, Ban ki-Moon said on the occasion, ‘I applaud all people who volunteer each year for the benefit of their communities’.

Message from Luc Panissod, outgoing Secretary General, WOSM - International Volunteer Day 2012: "Every day, millions of volunteers across the globe who are committed to the core values of Scouting contribute through their competencies, skills and resources, to make a big impact on the Scout Movement, despite everything – despite crises and conflicts, and despite many challenges we face in the world today – so that young people are empowered to make the world a better place.

Volunteers are transforming their local communities through their efforts and are taking on leadership roles at various levels of Scouting. In this era of innumerable challenges, our volunteers are providing grassroots service and leadership to millions of boys and girls in more than 200 countries and territories where the Scout Movement is established.

Thanks to the contributions of many volunteers, Scouting continues to be one of the biggest youth organisations in the world. Today, after 105 years, it is still one of the most popular Movements offering a robust and up-to-date youth programme with volunteers offering value-based leadership in various capacities.

The World Scouting family relies on dedicated volunteers to promote its Mission of preparing and empowering young people to create a better world.

Volunteerism is, of course, its own reward. But the International Volunteer Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to remind all volunteers out there - selflessly seeking to improve our world - that we indeed recognise and value their contributions. Personally, on my last International Volunteer Day as the Secretary General of this great Movement, I express my sincere gratitude to all my sister and brother volunteers who share their skills and talents with the Scouting world, and hope that many more will follow in their footsteps in the years, decades and centuries to come."