Bhutan

International Volunteers Day 2009: Volunteer spirits meet in Tsirang

They come from different parts of the world, from different parts of Bhutan. Their age varies as well as their background and education. But they all have one thing in common - they are all volunteers and want to make a difference.

On 4-5 December over two hundred international and local volunteers were gathered at the public ground in Damphu, Tsirang to celebrate International Volunteers Day 2009. This year's theme was "Volunteering for our planet". Through skits, dances, workshops and exhibit programs on waste management and climate change this event reminded us of the realities of global warming and the need to act now.

"There is nothing more useful than volunteering for our planet and environment. This event inspires people to act now. After this happening, I want to go back to my college and encourage more students to become volunteers, said Tenzin Dorji (20), a member of Volunteers in Bhutan and student from Samtse College of Education.

The public ground in Damphu was packed with people these two days. The different volunteer organizations had stalls where they provided information about their volunteer work and they fundraised and arranged workshops on waste management. But this event was not only a forum for volunteers to meet. The last day an environment related activity was organized in true volunteer spirit. Saturday morning, the garbage on the ground of Tsirang saw it last days as all the volunteers collected garbage and participated in the "Clean Tsirang" activity. The UN Resident Coordinator, Claire Van der Vaeren and Dzongkhag Dasho Pemba Wangchuk also took part in this activity.

"I am impressed by the spirit of the volunteers", Ms. Van der Haeren said after the event. In her speech on the opening ceremony she said that the UN would continue to support volunteerism as a force for sustainable development. The chief guest Dasho Paljor J Dorji paid tribute to the volunteers and said they are tomorrow's leaders. "You are the new generation and you can always lead".

But what does it actually mean to be a volunteer? And what are the volunteers getting in return for the time they spend doing something for others? Tshelthrim Dorjee has been a volunteer for many years, and is a member of Volunteers in Bhutan. He stressed the point that volunteerism must come from within and that the feeling of making a difference makes it all worth it.

"Volunteerism must come from the heart. We don't do this to impress others; it is an act in order to help our society. It's a duty as well as a pleasure", he said.

This was the first time International Volunteers Day was arranged outside Thimphu, next year the volunteer spirit will meet in Eastern Bhutan. Meanwhile, the volunteers will continue to make a difference - in Bhutan as well as in the world.