7/5/2010 - ‘WeGIVE’, AFS launches revamped volunteer recognition program in National Volunteer Week
Four new kinds of formal recognition in AFS Australia nation-wide program, WeGIVE
As volunteers across Australia gear up to put on the party, BBQ, fundraiser or fun run of the year in honour of National Volunteer Week, AFS Australia, a non-profit independent reliant on its nationwide network of over 450 volunteers, has chosen this week to launch its new Volunteer Recognition Program, WeGIVE.
Based on the classic quote by Sufi poet philosopher Kahlil Gibrain – ‘You give but little when you give of your possessions – it is when you give of yourself that you truly give’ – the AFS WeGIVE program is designed to recognise the selfless, often unsung efforts of AFS volunteers as they host foreign exchange students of high school age and volunteer abroad participants here to help with community projects, as well as assisting with airport meet-and-greets, or sharing their own experiences as AFS exchange participants. Many volunteers also get involved with the day-to-day operations of the organisation – including fundraising, and organising support and social activities for foreign exchange students to ensure their experience of Australia is positive.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Aasha Murthy, CEO and National Director of AFS Australia, the country’s leading provider of non-profit life-defining intercultural learning and exchange experiences. “The launch of WeGIVE follows a thorough nationwide review of our volunteer model – and the introduction of a new volunteer network model, designed to facilitate more grassroots ownership of tasks by moving away from a state-based hierarchy to a direct relationship between AFS Australia’s Head Office Support Centre and empowered local community volunteer groups.”
The new network, said Murthy, also signals a shift towards task-based volunteer activities best suited to match the professional skills and personal interests of volunteers – away from the traditional model of volunteer positions. “All this restructuring is directed to a singular purpose,” said Murthy, “to encourage and recognise volunteers who display commitment to AFS values, capability for their assigned AFS tasks, calendar availability to complete their tasks, and connectivity – a desire to either connect with other AFS volunteers socially or influence the strategic governance of AFS Australia. ”
“AFS WeGIVE offers four kinds of volunteer recognition: Spirit of AFS awards, Milestone Anniversaries, Galatti and AFS Bounty Hunter”, said Catharine McBride, Program Manager of AFS Australia. “Spirit of AFS, an ongoing award, invites our volunteers to nominate an AFS volunteer who, in their opinion, has ‘gone the extra mile’ – either on a specific initiative, or by doing a consistently fantastic job,” said McBride.
“Milestone Anniversaries celebrate the contribution of AFS volunteers which have often spanned decades – many of our volunteers joined after going on an AFS program as teenagers and are now in their 50s. Anniversaries to mark service of 5, 10, 15 and 20 years with AFS will be held in the coming months. Galatti is a global award given by AFS International to recognise the outstanding commitment of a volunteer from our network of 80 partners worldwide. AFS Bounty Hunter, one of our newest initiatives, is aimed at engaging our younger ‘AFSers’ to share their experiences with new potential AFS participants.”
For media interviews, images or enquiries, please contact:
Wenee Yap
PR & Media Coordinator
AFS Intercultural Programs Australia
Phone: 02 9215 0081
Email: wenee.yap@afs.org
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