A programme of activities to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2008, which falls on Dec. 5, will take place in Hanoi on December 7.

This announcement was made during a press conference held by the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union Central Committee and the UN Volunteers (UNV) Programme in Hanoi on December 5.

The programme, themed “Volunteer! Connect to Share”, will feature two major events: a ceremony to mark IVD and a volunteer fair.

The organising board had earlier arranged a mass bicycle ride along several Hanoi streets to encourage the public to work towards a greener city and a cleaner environment.

According to the organising board, the activities on offer during the IVD Celebration Programme will provide an opportunity for local and foreign voluntary organisations and their members to share information and knowledge regarding volunteer work, to better contribute to the nation’s development.

These activities will help increase public participation in voluntary activities and help to raise awareness of the volunteers’ contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

On this occasion, the organising board announced a three-year project to increase the range and number of voluntary activities that contribute to national development, backed by investment totaling 1 million USD.

International Volunteers Day was officially recognised by the UN General Assembly on December 17, 1985.

Source: VNA, photo: VNN