In between the official sessions and unofficial meetings, Liz took out a few minutes to speak to
Deborah Verzuu about her impressions of GLOW and how UNV and IAVE can work together. Here are some excerpts:
Q: What are the differences between UNV and IAVE as organizations, apart form the fact that UNV is a UN organization?
A: There is a structural difference. IAVE is membership driven with all the strengths and weaknesses that that implies. IAVE is very resource poor (in particular financial) but it is time-rich. But IAVE, because of the nature of its membership, has good and strong roots in grassroots volunteering. Most big national volunteer centres are either members of IAVE or have another connection with it. They are connected into the infrastructure of volunteering especially in the developed world.
Q: If you had a message for our people in the field what would it be?
A: I would encourage them to find out (via sending an email to membership@iave.org) if there are IAVE members in the country where they are operating. In some places these people are very involved in networking in their country and they might be interested in doing some things jointly.
Q: If you had a message for our Executive Coordinator what would it be?
A: The first big message would be one of congratulations. There is a great sense of purpose in the organization and the energy and commitment is enormous and very focused. I sincerely hope that we can develop a relationship between IAVE and UNV in a way that benefits both organizations but most of all that benefits volunteering.
Q: What was the most interesting thing you heard while you followed the sessions?
A: I thought that the issue that Bruce Jenks brought up about Volunteerism and Voluntarism was very interesting. But I believe however that the exercise of free will is central to both. But that Bruce highlighted it in that way was very interesting. And it might be useful in another context as well. The linkage to Voluntarism might be quite useful since it ties Volunteerism to the NGO sector.
Q: What do you think about the GLOW?
A: I was very impressed about what I perceive to be a good collegial spirit. There is a great sense of belonging to the organization. I was, for example, today in two different working groups and when they got to discuss the subject of strengths and weaknesses I was impressed by the way that people quite quickly were able to concentrate on the strengths. It is clearly a positive time for the organization. Also when it was mentioned that this (the GLOW) was a historic moment (“we are here and you are part of it”) the people immediately responded to it.
Q: Is there anything you believe that needs to change?
A: It was interesting to be here as a person from an external organization. I wonder whether UNV might explore the range of ways of involving people from outside organizations in activities of long-term planning. This goes back to what I said yesterday about that we need a strategic approach to link between Volunteerism for Development and Development of Volunteerism.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to convey to our colleagues?
A: Yes, I share the disappointment about the fact that the Secretary General’s report on the MDGs did not mention Volunteers or Volunteering. The SG did give a strong message about civil society but not about Volunteers or Volunteering. We need to keep thinking about how we do that.
