World Vision celebrates National Volunteer Month with PNVSCA

DECEMBER 6 – World Vision joins the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) in celebrating National Volunteer Month 2021 through an online forum entitled “New Normal na Walang Iwanan: Volunteering Opportunities Forum for Child Rights.”

In accordance to the theme “Volunteer Now: Spark Hope, Create Solutions, and Respond to Pandemic Challenges” (Magboluntaryo Ngayon: Buhayin ang Pag-asa, Lumikha ng mga Solusyon, at Tumugon sa mga Hamon ng Pandemya”), the forum featured talks from the Council for the Welfare of Children, World Vision, UNICEF, Child Hope Philippines, Kuya Center for Street Children. The event was streamed live on Zoom and Facebook.

WVDF Director for Resource Development Jun Godornes showcased World Vision’s work in the Philippines by sharing the organizations’ best practices in engaging volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pre-pandemic, our corporate partners were able to personally visit our communities,

spend time with the children. Unfortunately, we are unable to do that because of the

pandemic, but we have created virtual employee engagement activities for our corporate partners,” Godornes said, proving that it is still possible to encourage volunteerism even with pandemic restrictions. Some of the World Vision employee engagement activities featured included expertise-sharing, celebrations of milestones, fundraising, crowd funding, and student volunteerism.

Godornes also stressed the importance of using online platforms, volunteer orientation,

child safeguarding, and feedbacking to ensure that the activities will succeed in immersing volunteers in the communities supported by World Vision.

“During this time of pandemic, it is imperative that we help each other to look for solutions,” Godornes said. “‘To spark hope’ — that is what we are trying to do when we engage volunteers.”