Mainstreaming volunteerism can help community development, disaster preparedness
Due to the efforts of the volunteers, our country is thriving despite numerous natural disasters. Now it is time to introduce volunteer network in local government
Engaging young people in activities that support their positive participation in society is effectively achieved through youth volunteerism. Their zeal and energy can be harnessed to support regional, societal, and international development.
Bangladesh has a natural inclination towards volunteerism, and we must acknowledge their contributions by mainstreaming volunteerism through a national volunteer policy and digital platform. During our liberation war and other natural disasters, including the current epidemic, volunteers participated in a wide range of welfare initiatives.
Offering leadership development opportunities through volunteer work empowers the younger generation to take ownership of peace and development processes. This involvement fosters stronger social cohesion, more engaged youth, long-lasting community-government partnerships, improved health and educational outcomes, and increased youth employability.
Volunteerism contributes 3% to 5% of the world's GDP, with one billion volunteers worldwide aiding government development efforts.
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Bangladesh has always been in the forefront of the fight against disasters. And during this worldwide pandemic, it was evident once more. Volunteers had been fantastic in spreading awareness about personal hygiene and hand washing during the coronavirus. As a result, our country was thriving in spite of the awful circumstances.
We are inspired by Bangladesh's efforts to uphold and encourage volunteerism among its brave people. We are grateful for the efforts made in this area thus far, but I believe there is still space for development.
Many parties are eager to provide Bangladesh with financial support and infrastructure support. Therefore, Bangladesh will soon witness an even more powerful force of volunteers who could overcome the obstacles that lie ahead if the inner abilities are strengthened.
A novel institutional framework for community preparedness, the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) was developed to lessen the effects of devastating cyclones that frequently strike Bangladesh's coast. CPP makes sure that the communities receive official cyclone warning signals from the Bangladesh Met Department as soon as possible.
The creation of the National Volunteer Policy will aid in mainstreaming voluntary work by individuals and groups, the commercial sector, and development partners, as well as providing official government recognition for volunteering. The volunteers of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) and the Bangladesh Scouts, who appear to be promoting community development by supporting those impacted by natural disasters, are a true blessing to our country.
As of 2021, 2,261,351 people belonged to the official scouting organisation of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Scouts. Adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh are involved in community development projects, awareness-raising, and campaigns related to children's issues, including handwashing, newborn health, managing menstrual hygiene, and eliminating child marriage. They also discovered that helping the victims of disasters was something they could do.
After being alerted, CPP helps with providing rapid medical attention, refuge, and rescue. CPP is deeply engaged in large restoration activities and post-disaster recovery.
As of right now, CPP has 76758 volunteers. The United Nations in Bangladesh employs a committed group of volunteers known as UN Volunteers (UNV).
UNV is made up of committed individuals with professional experience, academic credentials, or training who are eager to provide their time and knowledge as national volunteers in areas where UN programming is offered domestically or as foreign volunteers abroad.
The Union Parishad, the lowest tier of local government in Bangladesh, has the authority to launch the Union Volunteer Network (UVN), a programme for youth volunteering that enables young people to develop their professional skills and competencies, foster a culture of reciprocity and voluntarism by setting an example, and positively impact their own communities as well as those of others.
These kinds of programmes are just one of many potential ways to get young people to volunteer and support peace and development in their local communities.
The institutional framework and support for youth volunteer programmes can be supplied by governments, international organisations, civil society organisations, youth networks, universities, and educational institutions.
The first stage is to think about the community's general development priorities, how youth fit into them, and how young volunteers might help achieve them. Robust leadership and backing from the Union Parishad are crucial pragmatic factors that contribute to the enduring viability of a young volunteer programme.
General staffing requirements, job descriptions, associated costs, and logistical requirements should all be identified during the design process. Procedures for recruitment, training (including deciding who will pay for and carry out the training), volunteer assistance, supervision, and assessment should be established.
Long-term sustainability and success of the young volunteer programme are significantly enhanced by the establishment of a stable administrative framework for management and supervision. The Union Parishad needs to support public-private partnerships to strengthen its technical and financial capabilities in order to make UVN sustainable.
Potential funding sources include non-governmental organisations and international organisations that focus on similar issues, UNV Bangladesh, youth-focused private foundations, businesses in the private sector, and individuals who wish to encourage youth involvement.
In order to engage youth in making positive, sustainable changes in their own or host communities, develop their professional skills and competencies, and encourage a culture of voluntarism and reciprocity by setting an example, a well-organised and well-representative UVN committee led by the Union Parishad chairman is essential.
The extent of the task to be determined after consulting with NGOs and pertinent experts. The UNV Bangladesh office could volunteer to assist the district-level Deputy Director of Local Government in piloting this idea at the Union Parishad level.
In the struggle against disasters, we have always been pioneers. And the global pandemic made it evident once more. Volunteers had been incredibly effective in spreading awareness about hand washing and personal hygiene during the coronavirus.
With the creation of the National Volunteer Policy, the government would officially recognise volunteerism and assist in mainstreaming the voluntary efforts of individuals and groups, as well as the private sector and development partners.
In the end, we want to develop youth through volunteerism. In order to efficiently harness the potential of voluntarism, a well-organised national volunteer policy can guarantee coherence and methodical coordination.
Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam, Professor in Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University holds visiting scholar and guest faculty status at Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
