PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: hovhannes.sarajyan@undp.org<mailto:hovhannes.sa rajyan@undp.org>
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UN Office in Armenia together with its partners celebrates the
International Volunteer Day

YEREVAN, 4 December 2009 – The Armenian authorities, UN
representatives and civil society activists discussed social and
economic importance of volunteerism for development during a round
table discussion today, which honored the International Volunteer Day,
marked on 5 December.

During the event findings of a survey "Measuring economic contribution
of volunteerism in Armenia" were discussed and information about
developments of the National United Nations Volunteer Scheme was
distributed. The National Volunteer Involving Organizations’ network
presented its recommendations aimed to improve draft legislation on
volunteerism.

Welcoming the participants of the round table, Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP
Resident Representative a.i. said, "The main objective of this
roundtable is to disclose and discuss the economic value of
volunteerism in Armenia. The UN system values volunteerism as a
driving force for development and has instituted the UNV programme to
support sustainable human development globally through the promotion
of volunteerism, including the mobilization of volunteers." He paid a
special tribute to the two UNV volunteers who lost their lives in the
attack on a UN guest house in Afghanistan in October.

In addition, on 5 December, the volunteers from Armenian civil society
organizations will get together to clean the Tsitsernakaberd Park and
its surroundings and to decorate a Christmas tree for persons with
disabilities.

This year activities have been dedicated to "Volunteerism for our
Planet" in view of the upcoming Conference on Climate Change which
will take place in Copenhagen next week.

Flavia Pansieri, UN Volunteers Executive Coordinator, said, "Across
the world, people volunteer to protect our planet in many ways, from
cleaning up their neighborhoods and organizing recycling schemes, to
campaigning for renewable forms of energy. Being an environmental
volunteer can support many goals, including conserving biodiversity,
addressing desertification and deforestation, reducing waste and
pollution, improving water quality and sanitation, and sharing
information to educate others".

These activities are in line with other similar events taking place
worldwide to recognize and value volunteerism.