EYV FLOW - Issue 4

Welcome to the 4th of the monthly EYV 2011 Alliance Newsletters. Either directly in the text or through hyperlinks you can find EYV 2011 Alliance news together with profiles of the members, a "city focus" and announcements. If there is anything that you would like to be included in future editions of EYV Flow please contact the EYV 2011 Alliance secretariat. To receive the EYV Flow please subscribe on the EYV 2011 Alliance Web Portal.  

EYV 2011 Alliance: 33 European networks  

In November 2010, five new European networks active in volunteering joined: ISCA - International Sport and Culture Association, ESN - Erasmus Student Network, MHE - Mental Health Europe, IPPF - International Planned Parenthood Federation, EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network. The EYV 2011 Alliance currently represents 33 European networks gathering over 2,000 direct member and partner organisations all over Europe and beyond.

EYV 2011 Alliance working group kick-off

The kick-off of the EYV Alliance working groups takes place in Budapest on 7th-8th January 2011. It is the first of five meetings planned in 2011. It will be the first step in the preparation of the European Policy Agenda on Volunteering to be presented by the EYV2011 Alliance at the EYV2011 European Commission closing conference in Poland in December 2011.

EYV 2011 Alliance with policy makers

As EYV 2011 approaches policymakers at EU level are increasing their efforts to focus on Volunteering. EYV 2011 Alliance has participated in a meeting of the European Parliament MEP Interest Group on Volunteering and the Committee of the Regions and the Land of Berlin joint conference on "The 2011 European year of Voluntary activities: what role for EU-regions and cities?".

EYV 2011 volunteering commitments launched

The feature on the EYV 2011 Alliance website to sign up online to commit to volunteer for a specific number of hours, during 2011 was launched this month to contribute to the increased recognition of the contribution of volunteers across Europe. The EYV 2011 Alliance wants to thank all the volunteers for their gifts of time. From January 1st 2011 an automatic counter of each hour committed allows viewing of statistics of the hours (per country/region/gender/age). Make your commitments for 2011 here !

MHE volunteering position paper released

Mental Health Europe issued a position paper on volunteering as key element for social inclusion of people with mental health problems. This paper has been released on the occasion of MHE Annual Awareness Raising Event at the European Parliament on 17 November. Full-article here.

Council of Europe promotes volunteering

Following a lengthy lobby process supported by many EYV 2011 Alliance members, with Volonteurope taking a leading role, on November 12th 2010 the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution and recommendation on promoting volunteering in Europe.

Building Volunteering Infrastructure in the EU

The "European Alliance for the Statute of the European Association" (EASEA) to support  the campaign inviting MEPS to sign the European Parliament written declaration on establishing a European Statute for Mutuals, Associations and Foundations (declaration no. 84/2010) was launched during the public hearing "Recognizing the role of volunteers and volunteering for social cohesion and active citizenship" jointly organised by Alliance EG member Volonteurope. The written declaration has to be signed by a majority of the Members of the European Parliament, only then can it be forwarded to the European Commission. The time limit for securing the signatures is 17 February 2011. The time is right for a European Statutes for Associations. How to join?

UN Efforts to boost volunteerism worldwide

On the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (IVD), 5th December 2010, international volunteer-based organizations around the world launch a year-long campaign aimed at better understanding, promoting and supporting volunteerism. Read more.

EC Media launch for EYV 2011

The European Commission launched the European Year of Volunteering 2011 on 2nd of December 2010. Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, joined by Jean-Marc Delizée, Belgium's federal Secretary of State for Social Affairs, and European Parliament Member Marian Harkin, presented the year's slogan: "Volunteer! Make a difference." EC Press release here, video extract here.

EYV 2011 tour starts in Belgium

The EYV 2011 Tour starts in Belgium with a ten-day event (3-12 December 2010) in a pavilion specifically created for this occasion on the Place d'Espagne/Spanjeplein in Brussels...read more. Find out more about participating in the EYV 2011 tour in your country & about the National Coordinating Bodies in each Member State.

Relay reporters for EYV 2011

27 European volunteers, one from each Member State and with a background in journalism, will participate in the production of stories about the European Year of Volunteering throughout 2011 and cover the EYV 2011 Tour. Find out more information about the relay reporters here.

Volunteering for the social inclusion of elders

On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons on 1st October, Eurofound (the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) published a working paper highlighting the importance of volunteering for the social inclusion of older people. Full article here.

 EYV 2011 Alliance- Membership Profile

Volonteurope is a European wide network promoting voluntary action throughout the European Union as a mechanism for Active European Citizenship and celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011. It fosters action, debate and reflection on Active European Citizenship, democracy, shared values, common history and culture as well as working for the increased recognition of volunteering. Volonteurope's 200 members and over 600 partners from across the not-for-profit, public, governmental and private sectors provide opportunities for volunteering, civic participation and interaction in Europe's democratic processes for tens of thousands of Europeans. Many of today's most active groups in active citizenship started life as members of Volonteurope. As an active member of the Council of Europe Volonteurope reaches out to members all over Europe and has been responsible for working to get recognition for the European year of Volunteering 2011 in the Council of Europe and its 47 member states.

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) is an independent network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) established in 1990 involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion across the European Union relying on work are carried by volunteers, many with direct experience of poverty and social exclusion. National Networks and European Organization members of EAPN are involved in a variety of activities aimed at putting the fight against poverty high on the agenda of the EU and to ensure cooperation at EU level aimed at the eradication of poverty and social exclusion. EAPN works towards its aims through advocacy, lobbying, campaigning, training and capacity building, as well as through information work. EAPN has been coordinating the EU 2010 Year NGO coalition and during EYV 2011 the aim is to highlight the value of volunteering by anti poverty organizations and to work for a real recognition and support to these initiatives which contribute to the implementation of progressive social policies and the achievement of the poverty target under Europe 2020 Strategy.

EYV 2011 "City Focus" - Asnières-sur-Seine 

Volunteering in Asnières-sur-Seine: Asnières is close to Paris and has around 85,000 inhabitants with a high proportion of young people. The town's main objectives are to create a dynamic community, boost local commercial activities, attract big companies and reinforce social cohesion with the help of a strong network of volunteer organizations. Indeed, these play an essential part in the city's life.

More than 200 associations participated in the "2010 Annual Associations Fair", an event held within the framework of a campaign "2010 year of Volunteering" launched in partnership with France Bénévolat in preparation for EYV 2011. During the 2010 Associations Fair, a Symposium was held on the theme of "Volunteering". In addition, the town appointed a "Volunteering Ambassador" in charge of promoting volunteering in the city and continue to organize other events with local associations. Several activities took placze in different schools  across the town. Associations in Asnières will also implement various projects in the framework of EYV 2011. Full-article here. 

Announcements

Volunteering and Active Ageing: Day of UCP volunteers, on 3rd December 2010 in Belgium. Read more.

On 6th December 2010 (date TBC), AGE is organising a meeting with the European Parliament Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational solidarity on 'Enhancing the participation of older volunteers through the 2011 European Year of Volunteers'. Read more. 

 EC Call for volunteer organizations to host a volunteer journalist during the EYV 2011 tour. The EYV 2011 Volunteer Journalist Relay will visit each member state in turn, apply here ! Please check the deadline for your country.

Do you get all your expenses covered when you volunteer? Vote here. jdiuf dfiuo fdoifu dfidufm jfdkjflkd dfjdkfj dkfljd fdfkjdfdfjdkfdj fjdkf dfjkdjm  jfkdjflmkds df j fdjdf dkjdf dfdslkjf j

Share and match your needs on the Online Market place here. Do you get all your expenses covered when you volunteer jdiuf dfiuo fdoifu dfidufm jfdkjflkd dfjdkfj dkfljd fdfkjdfdfjdkfdj fjdkf dfjkdjm  jfkdjflmkds df j fdjdf dkjdf dfdslkjf j

in the lead-up to International Volunteer Day (5 December), the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme invites the world to an online film festival from 14:00GMT+12 on December 4. Read more.

Call for papers until January 15th: "Volunteerism and Philanthropy: Ideal or Ideology", LCC International University

To join the facebook group for the European Year of Volunteering 2011, click here !