NetAid and UNV honour outstanding online volunteers Volunteers help others living a world away via the Internet http://www.unvolunteers.org/infobase/news_releases/2003/03_04_30DEU_netaid.h tm NEW YORK/BONN, 30 April 2003 -- NetAid and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme today announced the names of the "Online Volunteers of the Year" for 2003. These 10 volunteers were singled out as having performed outstanding work for international development organizations around the world through NetAid Online Volunteering (OV), a free service jointly managed by NetAid and UNV. This service uses the Internet to connect skilled online volunteers with international development organizations that need their help. Congratulating the Online Volunteers of the Year, Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the UNV programme said: "It is of great importance to recognize the contributions of people who make their time, skills, expertise and creativity available to others via the Internet. It is equally important to highlight that online volunteering generates many new opportunities for people to volunteer." This year's Online Volunteers of the Year originate from six different countries and have touched the lives of people in urban and rural areas of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The awarded online volunteers have engaged in diverse assignments. For example, these volunteers have: -- Reached out to potential donors and collected more than a thousand donated publications for a library in Nigeria -- Developed an idea for a vocational training project that has now been put into practice in Kenya -- Designed web sites -- Mentored an organization to create a professional project plan in Armenia -- Established an additional USA branch for an organization that gathers used computers for developing countries -- Marketed a project for a Bulgarian-based NGO that received funding as a result Honorees were selected based on the difference they made for their host organization, the dedication they displayed, the innovative ideas and exemplary service they contributed and the positive impact that volunteering has had on their lives. The true beneficiaries of the OV programme are the hosting organizations that engage the volunteers and receive their services. "Whether they were web designers, researchers, writers or marketers, these online volunteers have made tremendous contributions to their host organizations," explained Bea Bezmalinovic, NetAid Programme Director of OV. "We hope that the recognition of these individuals will highlight their contributions and motivate more organizations to work with online volunteers and benefit from their services." Freedom from Hunger, a hunger-fighting organization based in Davis, California, experienced these benefits first hand after working with Online Volunteer of the Year Kantamneni Raj Gopal Prasad of Plymouth, Minnesota. "Although a volunteer, he treated Freedom from Hunger like a paying 'client,' delivering top-notch service and assuring 'client' satisfaction. He went above and beyond the call of duty by creating sustainability of the product he delivered," said April Watson of Freedom from Hunger. The Online Volunteers of the Year are just a few of a growing body of online volunteers. Since February 2000, NetAid Online Volunteering [www.netaid.org/OV/] has attracted over 10,000 people worldwide to volunteer with nearly 300 organizations working in 60 countries. NetAid OV, powered by the staff of the UN Volunteers programme [www.unvolunteers.org], allows volunteers around the world to overcome the barriers of distance and time by using the Internet to connect and communicate with their host organizations about their assignments. It utilizes sophisticated search tools to match specialized skill sets with specific needs, and provides those organizations that have good connectivity with an electronic platform to manage their volunteers. Online volunteers do not have to leave their homes and are generally free to structure their volunteer hours around their schedules. "I hope everyone who wants to make a difference but isn't sure where or how, will consider NetAid's services. It's the best way I know of to give something valuable to the international community and the world while getting in return far more than one gives," explains Online Volunteer of the Year Paul Fifen Chimy, a native of Cameroon who now lives in France. The Online Volunteers of the Year 2003, their host organizations, and their respective country affiliations are: Paul Fifen Chimy (Cameroon/France) - Education for Development (Vietnam) Deborah D'Amico (Canada) - People with Disabilities Uganda (Uganda) Yasemin Gunay (Turkey) - MGBALA AGWA Youth Forum (Nigeria) Kantamneni Raj Gopal Prasad (USA) - Freedom from Hunger (USA) Lela Rachman (USA) - Pearls of Africa (USA) Stanley Tuvako (Kenya) - KAIPPG (Kenya) Mark Wireman (USA) - Lawyers Without Borders (USA) Anne-Catherine Yon (USA) - World Computer Exchange (USA) Xiaodong (Kelly) Zeng (USA) - Business Information Center, Stradja (Bulgaria) Miodrag Zivkovic (Serbia) - Zartonk-89 (Armenia) Full stories of the OVYs' achievements and experiences are highlighted on the NetAid site at www.netaid.org/ov/stories/ov_oftheyear.pt. Each of the honoured Online Volunteers of the Year will be featured in the NetAid monthly newsletter Connections and will receive a certificate of recognition from NetAid and UNV. About NetAid NetAid [www.netaid.org] is an independent non-profit organization (501 c3) based in New York. NetAid's mission is to build a Network of people and organizations committed to ending extreme poverty around the world. This Network is engaged through NetAid's portfolio of programmes, which offer concrete and meaningful ways to make a difference in the lives of the world's poorest people. These programmes - all of which are supported by a strong Internet presence -- include the NetAid World Schoolhouse, NetAid World Class, and NetAid Online Volunteering. NetAid was founded in 1999 by Cisco Systems and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). About UNV Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV [www.unvolunteers.org] is the volunteer arm of the UN system supporting peace, relief and development initiatives in nearly 150 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by UNDP, UNV works through UNDP country offices to mobilize volunteers -- two-thirds of them from developing countries -- and promote the ideals of volunteerism around the world. UNV has co-managed the NetAid OV service since its launch in February 2000. For more information about this news release, please contact: Andrea Goetzke, UNV; tel: (49 228) 815 2224; email: andrea.goetzke@unvolunteers.org Joy Portella, NetAid; tel: (1 212) 537 0518; email: Jportella@netaid.org ---- message forwarded by ---- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jayne Cravens [jayne.cravens@unvolunteers.org] Online Volunteering Specialist United Nations Volunteers www.unvolunteers.org Bonn, Germany UNITeS: www.unites.org NetAid Online Volunteering: www.netaid.org/OV Global portal to volunteering: www.iyv2001.org -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ========== Send mail intended for the list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>. 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