Capital celebrates the gift of giving
Wednesday 2 December 2015
Capital celebrates the gift of giving on International Volunteer Day
This Friday, Wellington’s Volunteer Corner will be the fitting site for an event celebrating International Volunteer Day – a day that pays tribute to volunteers here and around the world, and highlights the need for more of them.
There will be live music, plus food and coffee, and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will join others in recalling their stories about volunteering, and invites everyone to come and enjoy the event.
“Everyone contributes time, skills, or ideas in some way,” she says. “We encourage new volunteers as well as those who have been contributing their time for years, even decades, to our culture and social wellbeing.
“There are hundreds of not-for-profit community organisations in Wellington alone, all of which run primarily through the dedication of their volunteers. This day and event celebrates what they do, as well as the millions of others around New Zealand and the world.
“If you have some spare time, a special skill or two, don’t mind a bit of physical work, or enjoy working with people, there’s always room for more volunteers – just ask Volunteer Wellington,” adds the Mayor.
Volunteer Corner is part of this year’s Victoria Street transformation project, so it’s fitting that the first community event to be held in the revamped park will be an occasion to celebrate volunteers and the huge contribution they make to the city, says Volunteer Wellington Co-Manager, Pauline Harper.
“Volunteers originally helped develop the garden in 2001, and 14 years on the full dream has been realised – now we have a great place where people can sit, reflect, and celebrate all the contributions people make in the world,” says Pauline.
Volunteer Wellington works with 400 community organisations offering services throughout greater Wellington.
International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organisations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the day every year.
The event is being held at Volunteer Corner (corner of Victoria and Dixon streets) on Friday 4 December, from 4pm–6pm. The wet weather venue is at Zeal (103 Ghuznee Street).
ENDS