Life Changing Experience at Volunteer Action for Development

Volunteer and Service Enquiry Southern Africa (VOSESA) was created in 2003 in response to the clear need for well-researched and up-to-date information on volunteering and civic service in southern Africa. VOSESA is a non-making profit organisation in southern Africa committed to strengthening and developing the voluntary sector in the region through research, publishing and evidence-based advocacy.

The conference was the first of its kind for the region and was convened to raise the profile of volunteer action as a tool for promoting people's participation in SADC regional integration and development. Among other things, the out come of the conference included:

• Strengthen the understanding of volunteers and civic service in Southern Africa in regard to MDG's (Millennium Development Goals) and sustainable development.
• Support from SADC members, UNV
• Steps towards the establishment of a large number of SADC regional service Programmes

Duncan Van Niekerk, a Youth Leader who attended the conference shared his experience and had this to say,” A big thanks to the Commonwealth Youth Program making it possible for me attend such a conference. It fast tracked my development as a youth and inspired me to inspire more people”. I was fortunate enough to be able to grab this opportunity to represent the Commonwealth Youth Program. I received an email on Sunday 6:45pm from Victor Mensah, from the Commonwealth Secretariat, carrying a simple message ‘Duncan – register’. Victor later explained the opportunities that come out of such conferences and I was more than willing to be part of that powerful and influential program – “what an honour”.

I met Victor a month before in Kenya, while representing the President's Award for Youth Empowerment South Africa at the International Gold Event (IGE) organised by the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Association (IAA). Victor is also an award holder and trainer of the program and his involvement in the Commonwealth Secretariat is aligned with the International Award program. Victor explained that the Commonwealth Youth Programme made a commitment to provide such opportunities for further development of IGE Alumni.

The most memorable thing I took from the conference was the fact that, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the most innovative minds deliberating on volunteerism and using it as a tool for development in the Southern African Region was an eye opener. Being exposed to community volunteerism work, through the President's Award for Youth Empowerment and various other projects, I was privileged to be exposed to this from at a young age, and gained the perspective of a volunteer or have had my eyes opened. Something a lot of people and my peers have not had the opportunity to be exposed to.

Among the topics covered were;

1. Lifting the profile of volunteers by Sizwe Nxasana, CEO: FirstRand Ltd
2. He opened by questioning the way we view volunteerism, suggesting that it needs a new look as its potential impact can be used as a powerful tool. Mr. Nxasana pointed out that many of our great leaders emerged out of being volunteers themselves.
3. ‘Volunteers help deal with problems’, ‘We all have the capability to do good, often we just need that system’ by Naheed Haque, Deputy Executive Coordinator: UNV Naheed opened by stating that,Development happens at a community level and not at a policy level’. Naheed looked at volunteering potential for transformational development and pointed out the role of youth as social agents for change.
4. Selfless leaders are achieved through volunteerism’ by Kerena,Cornin VOSESA. Looked at Social activism and motivating people toward specific social and economic change goals.
5. ‘Volunteers are for attitude, value and responsibility, and NOT for beach clean ups’ by Tapiwe Kamuruko, Senior Portfolio Manager, Development division: UNV.
6. Presentation by Pravin Gordahn, Finance Minister: Mr Gordhan presented to us via Skype as you could not be there in persons. It is always an eye opener hearing Mr Gordhans perspective and the insight he brings into such issues. Mr Gordhan presented the following: He pushed for volunteers at grassroots levels, as this is the power of voice for the ordinary folk, the civic youth, and this is our means where we can contact authority. Volunteers as activists and an important part of democracy, and he suggested that we relook or re-activate the sprit of volunteerism.
7. Presentation by youth representatives: The youth rep’s suggest using volunteerism as a tool to reduce youth unemployment, the key aspects brought forward in this presentation was the need for selfless leader.

A huge thank to the Commonwealth Youth Program for giving me this opportunity, I have developed so much, and now have a drive to learn even more and deliver the message and do what I can in my means to drive this passion into action.