JICA joins Volunteer Involving Organisations in celebrating the International Volunteer Day

JICA Uganda Office on 5 December 2023, joined other volunteer Involving Organisations in Uganda, including Voluntary Services International (VSO), Uganda Red Cross, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Building Tomorrow, Youth After School Initiative (YASI), United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV), Peace Corps Uganda, Restless Development, Challenges Worldwide, and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and AIDS Information Centre Uganda (AIC), in the commemoration of the International Volunteer Day (IVD).

The IVD 2023 was celebrated under the theme, “If Everyone Did”, focusing on collective action, and main celebrations were held at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) in Nakawa, a suburb in Kampala, marked by various activities such as community cleaning, blood donation, sports, volunteer voices, exhibitions and awards.

All organisations involved, led by a band, marched from UICT grounds to Nakawa market where the cleaning was done, and the area was left spot clean. Organisational leadership including Mr. Fukuhara Ichiro, JICA Uganda Senior Representative, UNDP Representative and the KOICA Representative, among others, participated in the cleaning activity and advocated for togetherness in volunteering for a better world.

The event was presided over by the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke, who also handed over certicates of appreciation to all volunteers and awards to all participating organisations.

Other activities that marked the event included blood donation spree that attracted a number of people to donate blood to save lives, a health camp where participants were able to test for infections such as HIV/AIDS and Syphillis for free, and a sports challenge, where volunteers and participanting organisations took part in friendly football matches, that they enjoyed, amidst the muddy environment due to rains that day.

In the end, from the activities of this year’s IVD, it is worth noting that IVD is an underestimated opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individuals to promote volunteerism, support volunteer efforts and recognize their contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) locally and internationally.