Novice

The European Volunteer Center (CEV) organised a symposium in Valencia, Spain, from 27-30 April 2010, on communicating and preparing the countdown towards the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Among the speakers at the conference were Rita Barberá Nolla, Mayor of Valencia, Rafael Blasco Castany, Fundar President and John Macdonald, Head of the EYV 2011 Task Force.

John Macdonald outlined the activities planned for 2011, which will include:

• A website as a portal for agendas, events calendars, material, video clips and the logo
• Goodwill ambassadors of the year
• Conferences
• A truck tour, to highlight volunteering in the different regions of Europe
• Four thematic quarters which are volunteering in sport, education and training, environmental protection and sustainable energy and in the last quarter social inclusion

The aims of the European Year will be to create an enabling environment for volunteering, messages should reach target groups such as the government, this will be an opportunity to recognise the role of volunteers in all sectors. Markus Held, CEV Director said, “The Year is yours. You should use EYV 2011 to mobilise your government (and other actors)… this is the only way the European Year can work.”