The 5th December was chosen by the United Nations in 1985 as the International Volunteer Day. Since then, people around the world celebrate the power and the potential of volunteerism on this date.
It’s a great opportunity for volunteers and organisations to share their values, raise awareness and promote their work.
In order to celebrate the International Volunteer Day, ELIX organized an event on 4th December 2019 in its p^2 Multispace. Around 20 volunteers gathered to discuss their experiences through activities. They had the chance to reflect on the skills they gained during their volunteering projects and on the contribution they made to Society strengthening solidarity and inclusion.
This year, the International Volunteer Day honors volunteers contributing to inclusion and Sustainable Development Goal 10, reducing inequality within and among countries.This theme "volunteer for an inclusive future" couldn’t fit more to ELIX’s actions. Let’s have an overview of ELIX work.
ELIX was founded in 1987 with the aim of: promoting volunteerism through organized forms of voluntary work. Hundreds of volunteer work programs had been ran in several locations across Greece. ELIX support volunteering abroad as well by sending abroad volunteers from Greece and strengthening volunteer movements thanks to its active participation in the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations.
Since 2008, ELIX focused more on social projects that benefit vulnerable social groups, especially children and young people.
In Summer 2019, three workcamp projects had been organized by ELIX in Greece: “Summer is in the City” , “This Summer is Ours” and “Sustainable Path in Amvrakia”. In Athens, through the Learning for Integration Project, ELIX provides opportunities for children and young migrants and refugees and their parents, people unfortunately often excluded, and help their integration in the Greek society by implementing educational projects.
Some numbers in 2019:
86 greek volunteers were sent abroad by ELIX to participate in workcamps.
91 volunteers participated in ELIX workcamps in Greece.
35 volunteers participated in the ELIX Learning for Integration Project.
8 long term volunteers in ELIX through European Voluntary Service (now European Solidarity Corps)
17 long term volunteers were sent abroad by ELIX to take part in European Voluntary Service (now European Solidarity Corps)
A big thanks to all our volunteers for their efforts, by offering their time and skills, to make the world a better place. ELIX will not be ELIX without them.
Happy International Volunteer Day!
