Spreading the word about volunteering

The attendance at the Conference of Meryelen García, Amelia Holder, Francis Pérez and Albis Thorp, in representation of the Panama Girl Guides Association, was very well received and it gave them the opportunity of spreading the word about what volunteering and the spirit of Guiding are all about.

IAVE organizes the World Conference of Young Volunteers every two years. This year it was held in Panama, with the attendance of 200 young volunteers, aged 15 to 35, responsibles for their own organizations. The theme was: ’Young volunteers working towards solidarity and equality’

Volunteering around the world

This Conference gave participants the opportunity to share their experiences, exchange information and knowledge, and learn more about the current situation of volunteering in various regions of the world. 

Participants were also able to visualize the importance and contribution of volunteering as a component of human growth, and it allowed participants to develop new joint initiatives.

Following are the four main topics dealt with at the Conference:

• Volunteering of young people as an instrument of solidarity and equality
• The global impact of young volunteers
• Youth volunteering as a component of human development
• Innovative programmes and the new spheres of action of young volunteers

These topics were discussed in panels, workshops and groups, and were presented and contributed by young people with  experience on the subject of volunteering in different parts of the world.