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contents: From the first person Team Volunteering Volunteers Bulletin
The Fifth Generation of La Strada Volunteers

Twenty-two new volunteers were introduced to La Strada’s programs during a training that took place on October 17-19, 2008 at the La Popas pension in Cocieri. The program subjects were “The ABC’s of the potential migrant,” “Human Trafficking in the context of human rights,” “Teaching methods and techniques concerning human trafficking material”, and “Myth and reality related to going abroad.”

This year marks the fifth generation of volunteer program which has increased by 60%. The new volunteers are representatives of not only universities, but also of several high schools and colleges. Experienced professors applied and volunteered. They felt they could contribute to the development of the volunteer movement and the younger generation’s involvement in human trafficking prevention because of their education, life and professional experience. Their dedication impressed everyone present at the interviews.

Veteran volunteers taught the trainees of this year’s workshop. They shared their experiences in conducting seminars using to the Peer-to-Peer principle. The films Sex Traffic and Natasha is Not for Sale brought the cruel reality of the human trafficking phenomena to life, which increased the volunteers’ understanding of what they will be dealing with.

At the end of the workshop, Veronica Josan, La Strada’s Volunteer Coordinator, described the plan of action for 2008-2009. The International Center La Strada has now prepared 22 new volunteers to conduct informative seminars on human trafficking prevention to their fellow students and to take part in several activities organized by volunteers.

Edited by Nola Theiss, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships and
Ashley Wilson: Esperanza Project of Florida Gulf Coast University

Italy - Balkans: Volunteers for peace and development

– Currently, there is no law on volunteering in Moldova. Nevertheless, volunteering is a movement in continuous development in this former soviet country, and achieves great success almost in all the domains: social, political, cultural, economic, etc., said Veronica Josan, Volunteer Coordinator of the International Center for Women’s Rights Protection and Promotion “La Strada”, during the International Conference „European Dialogues Italy – Balkans. Volunteers for peace and development.”

Veronica Josan, and Ilie Zabica, from the Moldova branch of “Regina Pacis Foundation”, represented the country during this international forum for volunteers, which took place on October 1 - 4, at Lignano Sabbiodoro (Italy). At the forum participated 109 persons, representatives of 10 balkanic countries (Southeast Europe) and of several NGO’s from Italy - the host country. During three days of activity, the participants got familiarized with the activity of different volunteer organizations from Italy and balkanic countries, as well as with the future projects referring to the Adriatic region countries.

– I was impressed by the presentation made by Karl Monsen-Elvik (Volunteer Development Scotland), member of the board of directors of the European Volunteer Center (CEV), “Volunteering Infrastructure”, centered on the role of community and of the governmental structures in the development volunteering programs. I also enjoyed the presentation made by the director of CEV, Markus Held, entitled “VIP Projects” that emphasized the importance of volunteering in the development of every society, and which made me see it as an instrument for building up an active European citizen. And of great pleasure was my visit to Venice which ended this unforgettable conference, added Veronica Josan.

Volunteers from La Strada Discover Europe
in Macaresti, Ungheni

– When it was suggested that we carry out a seminar in the nicest European-style school in Moldova, we burst into laughter. A lyceum of the European style in Moldova? We found it hard to believe, and we told as much to Carolina Budurin, Natalia Ciobanu, and Tatiana Turcanu, volunteer lectors from La Strada. But, at the sight of it, our skepticism vanished, and we were left in awe.

– We were initially surprised (and then overwhelmed) by the admiration we received from the student body and even from the school administration. The head of the school, Mihai Ganga, and the director of educational matters, Eugen Besliu were astonished by our emotions: “Did you think that we have not been waiting for you? We are always glad to meet guests, and our students are very interested in your subject. There are no cases of human trafficking in our village; however, there are more than 100 pupils in our school whose parents are working abroad . . . Thus, welcome to our school!”

A gorgeous building was situated on the highest local hill, the school, a type of edifice that I’ve never seen in the capital, nor in the villages of Moldova. Indeed, the lyceum “Elada” from the Macaresti (Ungheni) district features a beautiful structure for the Moldovan rural area (even if it is not finished yet, as they plan to construct two adjacent buildings, a gymnasium, and a primary school). Its architecture, aesthetic planning, decoration of classrooms and corridors with images of monasteries and Christian Orthodox edifices, and views of the mountains and the coastline of old Ellada (as well as the modern Ellada) reaffirm this fact. At the entrance to the cabinet of the Head of School, and in some other places, you can see the portrait of the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. In addition, two newly equipped computer classrooms are waiting for young explorers to learn to navigate boundless virtual space.

Yet there is much to be done in order to bring the school’s educational programming and the overall quality of its educational process to European standards. There is a need for up-to-date educational materials and technical improvements, as well as the retraining of the teaching staff. All this, of course, depends on the administration of the school and local officials, as well as the ministry. However, the cornerstone has been laid, and those connected with Elada from Macaresti are optimistic, given the time and reality we live in. 

What about the students? They are generally the same as other students from Moldova villages. Maybe a bit more obedient than those from cities; perhaps the reason is that they are not fully aware of what fate can offer, but they are very curious and eager to learn. We witnessed this during the three-hour seminar, conducted by three volunteers in the IX and XI classes.

In general, this year has kicked off with many important events for La Strada volunteers. Besides 150 seminars conducted during the first four months of 2008 for young people from undergraduate and vocational institutions, the organization has created four roundtables related to volunteer opportunities for this demographic (International Relations Department, Political and Administrative Sciences, Journalism and Communication Sciences, State University of Moldova, Central Magistrate Court of Chisinau municipality etc., NGO Bazaar from 21-22 March (State University of Moldova), II National Week of Volunteers (14-21 April), during which they have organized a range of prevention activities in educational institutions in the Leova district). Within the framework of efforts that aim to prevent illegal migration and risk factors associated with human trafficking, the Ungheni district ranks high among other districts. During the first four months of 2008, 114 seminars were carried out in schools and lyceums that featured 2,500 participants. Since 2003, during the first five years of volunteer activities sponsored by La Strada, members of the youth organization “From Peer to Peer” have conducted about 2,000 seminars and events that involved more than 50,000 participants including students from undergraduate educational institutions, technical vocational schools, and universities.

* This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico.

Volunteering, an activity in full development

In Western Europe and the USA, volunteering is very often practiced by anyone who is interested in: students, unemployed, employees, or pensioners. People’s need to give something in return to society, to help those who are less lucky or to fight for a humanitarian cause is much better developed in these countries.

If you applied for a scholarship abroad, perhaps you had to include in your CV the volunteering activities you have been involved in. Why? Because volunteering activity can tell something about yourself, your ideas and things you believe in.

Following the model imported from the West, volunteering was brought to the Republic of Moldova by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that, by their definition, carry out charitable and aid actions in helping some categories of people or in supporting other activities within the field. NGOs work with volunteers because the financial resources don’t allow them to hire a large number of employees.

Romania has adopted a Law on Volunteering that defines conclusion of a volunteer agreement, which is a convention concluded on a free basis, executed between an individual, called volunteer, and a legal person, called host organization, and on the basis of which the first person takes responsibility to carry out an activity of public interest without expectation of financial remuneration.

Here are the reasons to become a volunteer:

• To enjoy yourself
• To gain experience that will help you find a better job
• Not to waste your time in vain
• To make friends
• To be together with your friends who are already volunteers
• To learn new things and develop good habits
• To give back a part of what you received from others
• To make new contacts that could be useful to your career
• To feel that your help is needed
• To become a part of a famous organization
• To try a new career
• To help those who are less lucky
• To achieve something, to bring change
• To improve the community
• To take a responsibility for
• To become part of a team
• To be able to understand the problems of the community you live in.

The Universal Declaration on Volunteering states that this activity is a fundamental component of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humanity – peace, freedom, opportunity, safety and justice for all people.

In the era of globalization and continuous change, the world is becoming smaller, more interdependent and more complex. Volunteering is a way in which human values of community and serving can be strengthened and sustained; individuals can exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of communities; and connections can be made between different cultures.

Volunteering turns into action the declaration of the United Nations according to which “we, the people, have the power to change the world”.

Volunteers’ rights are stipulated in the Charter of Rights and Obligations, set up by the National Volunteer Center in Paris, France. Among them are listed: right to be treated as a mate with equal rights and not as a cheap labour force; right to have personal preferences, temperament, life experience, studies and professional experience taken into consideration when assigning tasks; right to participate in training meetings within the field, both at the beginning of the activity as well as over the period of its duration; right for a place where to carry out the activity, right to be listened and have a role to play in activities planning, to feel free in making suggestions and to have one’s opinions respected.

Why is volunteering important? I will answer this question by quoting Indian political and spiritual leader, Mahatma Gandhi “if we want to live in a better world, we have to contribute to its creation”.

Universal Declaration on Volunteering

Volunteering is an activity carried out on personal initiative by any individual, to the benefit of others, without expectation of a financial reward.

Volunteering is a fundamental element of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humanity - peace, freedom, opportunity, safety, and justice for all people.

In this era of globalization and continuous change, the world is becoming smaller, more interdependent, and more complex. Volunteering - either through individual or group action - is a way in which human values of community, caring and serving to close people can be strengthened and sustained.

The qualities of a volunteer that are highly appreciated by the organizations that appeal to the volunteer movement are: creativity, innovative ideas, voluntary activity, motivation, will to help others, interest in different spheres, openness, independence, and knowledge.

Does volunteering mean to do work with frivolity and daftness? Not at all. To be a volunteer means to work on yourself daily, cultivate new abilities, learn, organize and carry out activities, take responsibility for, and gain experience.

The effect of volunteers’ contribution becomes visible in the organization they work for, volunteers’ friends, community they come from, and the society as a whole. At the same time, volunteering helps young people to build up abilities that the formal educational system usually cannot offer.

The mission of volunteering activity is to improve services offered to the community through community involvement.

Goals and objectives:

• recruiting, training, coordinating and admitting volunteers;
• developing volunteering as one of the resources that could satisfy the society needs;
• participating in and providing certain services to the community;
• raising community awareness and appreciating the volunteer’s work;
• offering opportunities for personal and professional growth.