National
Volunteerism
Initiative
Joint
Table
Vision
and
Values
Vision
and
Expected
Impacts
VISION
Volunteerism
and
citizen
engagement
form
the
foundation
of
a
cohesive
civil
society,
particularly
in
Canada,
where
our
Canadian
identity
and
citizenship
respect
and
celebrate
inclusiveness
and
diversity.
To
sustain
and
nurture
our
civil
society,
Canada
has
a
national
strategy
to
support
people
coming
together,
bringing
their
hearts
and
minds,
to
create
relationships
that
sustain
partnerships
in
communities,
between
all
sectors,
between
citizens
and
which,
in
the
end,
will
engage
all
Canadians,
including
those
who
are
now
the
most
disenfranchised,
the
most
impoverished,
among
us
EXPECTED
IMPACTS
A
society
in
which
volunteerism
is
an
integral
part
of
life:
Where
people
seek
out
opportunities
to
contribute
to
the
growth
and
development
of
their
community
through
voluntary
work
and
where
volunteerism
is
acknowledged
as
the
foundation
upon
which
the
community
thrives.
A
society
in
which
voluntary
work
is
highly
valued:
Where
organizations
in
the
public
and
private
sectors
have
developed
policies
and
procedures
that
promote
and
support
contributions
to
the
community
through
voluntary
work.
Where
they
provide
flexibility
in
work
schedules
to
accommodate
voluntary
commitments,
and
work
side-by-side
with
voluntary
organizations
to
improve
community
life
for
all.
A
society
in
which
individuals
consider
voluntary
work
a
necessary
component
in
their
personal
development
and
where
they
seek
out
opportunities
to
volunteer.
Where
training
and
education
resources
are
readily
available
and
serve
to
build
individual
and
community
capacity.
Assumptions,
Values
and
Principles
The work of the NVI Joint Table is guided by a number of assumptions, values and principles which have enabled its members to come together with a common language and to work toward a shared commitment.
ASSUMPTIONS
About
Volunteering:
Volunteering is the rent we pay for space on earth. Its value infuses the spirit, gives personal satisfaction to the individual, transcends purely economic contributions, and is intrinsic to the citizen engagement that strengthens society. Volunteering can not be mandated or imposed. By definition, volunteerism is an act of self-motivation.
About Opportunities to Support and Enable Volunteering:
Given the impact of volunteering upon personal and societal health, there is a need to increase volunteering in Canada over time. However, this increase will not occur spontaneously - there are barriers such as cynicism in the sector, organizational costs to ensure best practices in volunteer screening and management, and resourcing challenges that need to be addressed. These barriers can be overcome, permitting improvements in our collective quality of life, providing the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors can find ways to collaborate effectively.
About the Role of Governments:
The federal government is committed to supporting policies and programs that will increase and contribute to volunteerism. But ultimately, success will require the engagement and commitment of all levels of government.
Both formal and informal volunteering is promoted in Canada because volunteering has value for individuals and communities and is integral to effective civil society enables the participation in active citizenship of all who are able and interested; and, contributes to the economy without competing with paid employment
PRINCIPLES
About
Choice:
Volunteering cannot be imposed or mandated. It is an individual act of self- motivation to make a difference, to have an impact, and individuals bring their own reasons to the contributions they make.
About Inclusion:
This
initiative
will
engage
people
in
all
sectors
in
collaborative
effort
to
enable
outcomes
that
have
meaning
for,
and
improve
the
life
of,
all
Canadians.
Our
multicultural
society
requires
that
any
strategy
to
increase
volunteering
be
inclusive
and
culturally
sensitive.
Inclusion
means
respecting,
welcoming,
and
celebrating
diversity.
About
Consultation:
This initiative will be sensitive to the danger of consultation fatigue by building upon existing information and previous or tangential consultation activities (e.g., by other Joint Tables) and will seek, through the Joint Coordinating Committee, to coordinate consultation mechanisms and initiatives. Any consultation will have a clear purpose and will be undertaken as a dialogue around what can be done and how. Consultation will consciously be a two-way communication process.
Given the importance of volunteering to an effective civil society and sustained high quality of life in Canada, this initiative will position Canada for a dynamic, inclusive and productive future by:
- identifying sustainable strategies that have sufficient flexibility to over time;
- best using existing capacity, and, where needed, increasing the capacity of the voluntary sector to provide meaningful experiences, through the effective management of volunteers (screening, placement, leadership, and motivation);
- sharing best practices, monitoring results, and building upon successes and,
- engaging people in all sectors in initiatives to support and enable volunteerism in Canada.
