Guyana Chronicle Wednesday, 21 February 2001
 

The Guyana International Year of Volunteers (IYV)2001, launched its local website yesterday to sensitise the public on volunteerism here and worldwide.

The launching ceremony was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the UNited Nations Volunteers of GUyana (UNVG). The ceremony was held in the Brickdam building, Brickdam Georgetown. 

The website, which is hosted by the Sustainable Development Networking Project (SDNP) will provide information on IYV, and news items on volunteer agencies locally and internationally.

Ms. Rene Peroune, Coordinator of the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee, said the website www.iyv2001.org.gy, is an effective way of accumulating and distributing information on volunteerism here, regionally and internationally.

She noted that volunteerism has been playing a key role in Guyana's development, in the areas of health, education, youth development, information management, environmental management, governance and empowerment of women.

the IYV representative said the enhancement of promotion of volunteer services is one of the objectives of the IYV 2001 committee.

Ms. Peroune said that through continuous promotion, IYV hopes more school children and youths, career persons and retirees will be encouraged to become volunteers and that more resources will be made available to match the needs of communities.

Ms. Munirih Mancey, an SDNP volunteer, created the website.

The Guyana IYV 2001 Committee is guided by the motto "Towards a better World! Volunteering to make a Difference in Communities." (Amanda Wilson)
 

Stabroek News Wednesday 21 February 2001

The Guyana International Year of Volunteers (IYV)2001 Committee yesterday launched the IYVGuyana website and outlined its activities for the media.

The committee comprises representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture, Youth and Sports, and international and local volunteer organisations. Among the members are Dr Hardy T.Frye, country director for US Peace Corps, Jennifer Britton, programme officer for VSO Guyana, and Dr Leslie Chin, programme director for Guyana Volunteer Consultancy/CESO. 

Renee Peroune, UN volunteer and coordinator of the committee, said that a series of activities and fund-raising events have been planned throughout the year to observe International Year of Volunteers 2001. The activities include a poster competition, regional volunteer summits, a street fair/exhibition and a mentoring programme. In addition to these activities, there will be specific health/environmental and educational projects organised in collaboration with local and international groups. The year's activities are expected to culminate in a grand closing ceremony which will involve a volunteer conference,awards ceremony and the launching of a book on the history of volunteerism in Guyana. 

Special themes have been designated for each month.

Dorothy Fraser, secretary-general of the Guyana Red Cross Society, was invited to assist in the
launching of the Guyana IYV 2001 website.Members of the media were told that the website--www.iyv2001.org.gy will provide information on IYV and much more. The website, which is hosted by the Sustainable Development Network Project (SNDP), will serve as the key location for information on volunteerism in Guyana. Carla Thomas, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of the committee members, delivered the closing remarks.

The Guyana IYV 2001 Committee is an initiative of the United Nations Volunteer programme in  response to the proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly in November 1997 declaring 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. It was initiated in October 1999 and formalised in January 2001. The committee is responsible for preparing the 2001 celebrations.