{"id":3659,"date":"2021-12-15T23:55:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T23:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/?p=3659"},"modified":"2021-12-15T23:55:06","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T23:55:06","slug":"celebrating-the-international-day-of-volunteering-5th-december-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/celebrating-the-international-day-of-volunteering-5th-december-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"International day of volunteering"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celebrating the international day of volunteering\u00a0 5<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span>\u00a0December 2021<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 100 volunteers and staff got together to celebrate the international volunteer day at Ilford. There\u00a0 were\u00a0\u00a0speeches from staff , young\u00a0volunteers, partners organisation\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luljeta CEO\u00a0 said\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteers and friends,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is my pleasure to\u00a0be at this\u00a0event,\u00a0to celebrate\u00a0for the first time the\u00a0International Day of Volunteers\u00a0here at\u00a0Shpresa\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We always have celebrated\u00a0 the national week of volunteering\u00a0 1-7<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0June but\u00a0 this year we decided to go bigger\u00a0 as we are maturing as an organisation we are learning more , we are going beyond\u00a0 the\u00a0 Albanain community, beyond our\u00a0 local community , beyond London and\u00a0 now we are looking and learning how our little work\u00a0can\u00a0be part of the bigger movement , we are learning\u00a0 to go\u00a0 international\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0This event is particularly meaningful as we are paying tribute to the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers\u00a0from the Albanian community and the emergency volunteers who were recruited during covid10 first lock down .<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0This year the theme of the international volunteering day is\u00a0\u00a0what we have worked for the\u00a0past\u00a020 years\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer now for our common future<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through our work we\u00a0aim to inspire people, to\u00a0take action\u00a0NOW for people and the planet\u00a0and believe that everyone\u00a0has the ability to\u00a0do that\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A bit about this day\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) coordinates International Volunteer Day on 5 December every year to recognize and promote the tireless work, not just of UN Volunteers, but of volunteers across the globe. Every day, volunteers dedicate time and effort to ensure the inclusion of those often left behind, drive climate action and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When people are encouraged to get involved in solving problems, the solutions are more likely to be\u00a0feasible\u00a0and lasting. Volunteers engage communities and build a people-centric movement to help build a better and safer future for us all.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the generations of TOMORROW, we must take responsibility for the changes needed to build a better future NOW. Encouraging,\u00a0recognizing\u00a0and promoting volunteerism is an important part of creating a more equal and inclusive future for communities and worldwide.<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0May I,\u00a0first of all, invite all of you to\u00a0stand up\u00a0and give\u00a0 each other and those who\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be present a round of applause\u00a0as a sign of appreciation , and achievements\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We know\u00a0Volunteers do make a lot of difference. Long before the Governments\u00a0recognised and initiated\u00a0\u00a0the \u201cVolunteer Movement\u201d,\u00a0many individuals and organisations had been devoting countless hours of volunteer work to help the needy, spreading love and care in the society and sustaining social cohesion.\u00a0However at the Albanian community the governments\u00a0failed to\u00a0inspire people about it and see the benefits ,\u00a0 in\u00a0Albanian\u00a0 for 45 years the voluntarism was forced ad since 91 we have dealt with many social issues\u00a0 that have been divisive for the community to do just that.\u00a0maybe on\u00a0the years to come this will\u00a0change and\u00a0for this we tonight take a stand\u00a0 and promise to paly our part\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here at\u00a0Shpresa\u00a0we\u00a0have tried to bring about the culture shift and\u00a0use volunteering for\u00a0deeper\u00a0and better reason\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We wanted to bring\u00a0hope while offering\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0help\u00a0to\u00a0our members who were very often\u00a0were feeling vulnerable and were\u00a0seeking\u00a0 help<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We wanted everyone\u00a0\u00a0to understand and use\u00a0\u00a0volunteering as a tool to improve\u00a0 health , gain skills , have\u00a0fun\u00a0and give something back to an organisation that had\u00a0impacted\u00a0on\u00a0their\u00a0\u00a0life, either directly or indirectly as well\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And this investment and work showed that our volunteers we were able to :<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • make a difference to the lives of others<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • help the environment<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • help others less fortunate or without a voice<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • feel valued and part of a team<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • gain confidence and self-esteem.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u00a0a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      From this perspective, volunteering was\u00a0 new\u00a0 way of:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • gaining new skills,\u00a0knowledge\u00a0and experience<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      • developing existing skills and knowledge<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • enhancing a CV<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
        • improving one’s employment prospects<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
        • gaining an accreditation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
        • using one’s professional skills and knowledge to\u00a0benefit\u00a0others (usually described as pro bono).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          For others,\u00a0it was beneficial\u00a0because of its social benefits. These include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          • meeting new people and making new friends<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
          • a chance to socialise<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
          • getting to know the local community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
          • A chance to feel and help those who are discriminated in silence or\u00a0suffering\u00a0in silence\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            For\u00a0some\u00a0other , volunteering\u00a0worked\u00a0\u00a0because of its health benefits\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            • \u00a0Their\u00a0Improved\u00a0physical and mental health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            • \u00a0It provided\u00a0\u00a0a sense of purpose and taught\u00a0valuable skills.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            • They\u00a0\u00a0Nurtured\u00a0new and existing relationships<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Shpresa has indeed\u00a0mobilised\u00a0a very valuable\u00a0social resource to serve the community, lighting up the lives of not only the beneficiaries, but the benefactors themselves.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              So we turned the table around helping people not only to help themselves\u00a0 but discover that\u00a0they can help others too\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              As volunteers would know best,\u00a0GIVING\u00a0is a greater blessing than receiving.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \u00a0One thing that\u00a0the society\u00a0can take\u00a0from\u00a0Shpresa is that \u201cEveryone\u00a0has something to 0ffer , everyone\u00a0can be a volunteer in their daily life by helping others anytime, anywhere.\u00a0\u201c<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              It can be as simple as offering your helping hand to\u00a0someone who needs a letter to be\u00a0read,\u00a0a daily short phone call,\u00a0helping\u00a0the elderly next door, giving\u00a0professional advice to charitable organisations, or\u00a0 sponsoring a\u00a0refugee\u00a0child\u00a0somewhere in the world.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              As\u00a0i\u00a0mentioned above over this 20 years at\u00a0Shpresa we\u00a0have\u00a0\u00a0learned that\u00a0 volunteering can help to improve help , skills , network , access . it makes us happier\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              in the next 20 years we will call\u00a0\u00a0for a\u00a0\u201cthird-level volunteering\u201d which means everyone living out the spirit of a volunteer in one\u2019s daily life, and that it becomes part of our nature to help others whenever a need arises.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Behind each volunteer is the facilitating tasks done by the volunteer\u00a0teams here at\u00a0Shpresa.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0thank enough\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Evis Bodlli\u00a0 – the founder and creator of the\u00a0Women\u2019s\u00a0Volunteering project\u00a0as we well as\u00a0Accountancy for all\u00a0\u00a0and at the same time the Head of finances\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Flutra\u00a0Shega\u00a0the founder of the\u00a0Albanain school and\u00a0Lead of the\u00a0Breaking the\u00a0Chains\u00a0and\u00a0Young researchers team<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Alketa\u00a0Hystuma\u00a0 and Silvana\u00a0Ahmeti\u00a0 –\u00a0The lead of the advocacy project\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Ledisjana\u00a0Lala, Mirela\u00a0Hasimvllari\u00a0and\u00a0Valbona\u00a0Ademaj\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 lead of the empower women project\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Clea\u00a0Grady,\u00a0Amina\u00a0Meshnuni\u00a0\u00a0Lediana\u00a0Pajaj\u00a0and Daniel \u2013 lead for the digitalisation<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Esme Madill \u2013\u00a0Co founder of the\u00a0emergency response\u00a0 and\u00a0Breaking the chains project\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Brenda Roche , Marnie freeman , Rachel young , Andre Demushi for our monitoring and evaluation\u00a0 work\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Evis\u00a0Sukaj\u00a0and\u00a0Saime\u00a0Dushku\u00a0and\u00a0Gentiana\u00a0Vasili\u00a0\u00a0 – for support of the\u00a0TA\u00a0and young leaders \/young champions\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              We said goodbye to some very dedicate staff , with whom now we work to build further partnership\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Hermonda\u00a0Kallundra\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Emi\u00a0Emirjeta\u00a0Gjoni\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Migena\u00a0Ademou<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Dorina\u00a0Abdiaj<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              With the organisation\u2019s network and\u00a0expertise, volunteers\u00a0are able to\u00a0identify\u00a0service opportunities and\u00a0acquire\u00a0the necessary skills. Many charitable organisations in\u00a0UK\u00a0are\u00a0recruiting and helping\u00a0volunteers,\u00a0but\u00a0SHPRESA\u00a0I\u00a0believe\u00a0stands out among them.\u00a0\u00a0As it has\u00a0managed\u00a0to bring\u00a0about a culture shift\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              For the first time during covid we\u00a0recruited in\u00a0mass to help with easy the impact of\u00a0covid and\u00a0they were 92 none\u00a0Albanian\u00a0speaking\u00a0volunteers,\u00a0they were the\u00a0 savours for so many\u00a0on their roles as befrienders, story tellers, food delivery, fundraises, this started as a short response but some of the volunteers are still helping , fighting , playing an active role\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              My congratulations go to those who are going to receive the awards tonight.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              This is not only a recognition given by\u00a0Shpresa,\u00a0but also a milestone of your dedication and long service offered to\u00a0our\u00a0community Lastly, let me\u00a0wish you and everyone at\u00a0Shpresa\u00a0for its success in the past\u00a020 years. Also, I would like to call for your support to the promotion of volunteerism by\u00a0Shpresa so\u00a0that together we can make a difference and contribute to a more harmonious and caring society here.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Thanks for the Difference You’ve Made<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Because of you…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone\u00a0have\u00a0will have enough to eat tonight.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone\u00a0have\u00a0will have decent clothes to wear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone\u00a0have\u00a0will have shelter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone\u00a0have\u00a0will receive medical care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone will learn the skills they need to survive and succeed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone knows\u00a0there’s\u00a0at least one person in this world who cares.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Someone has or is about to fight your corner\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              This world is a better place because you volunteered, and we thank you for it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \u00a0After that the young people recognised those that have hold them and have helped them\u00a0 to\u00a0now volunteer, access training , university\u00a0\u00a0fell safe\u00a0healthier<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Miclu team\u00a0gave out the certificates\u00a0\u00a0to the Immigration Champions\u00a0and Shpresa\u00a0team gave\u00a0out the award for the\u00a0volunteers nominated\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0by their peers\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Be the change ,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Manjola\u00a0Mjetaj, Vera\u00a0Celkupa, Esmeralda\u00a0Lalaj,\u00a0Denada\u00a0Dedej\u00a0,\u00a0Oriola\u00a0Uka,\u00a0Ledjana\u00a0Pajaj\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Fuqizimi i Grave\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Rebeca\u00a0Marku,\u00a0Vera\u00a0\u00a0Picary\u00a0,\u00a0Donisa\u00a0Kastrati,\u00a0Bukurie\u00a0kastarti\u00a0,Enkeleda\u00a0Mera,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Youth champions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Arlinda ,\u00a0Kejdi\u00a0\u00a0Adela\u00a0,\u00a0Serm\u00a0,\u00a0Sibora\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Emergency\u00a0\u00a0response\u00a0\u00a0volunteer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Clea\u00a0Grady, Jane\u00a0Lund,\u00a0Hellen stack, Helen\u00a0Wing, Louise\u00a0garner,\u00a0Abigail\u00a0Hands, Rachel\u00a0Alsop,\u00a0Katheleen\u00a0Lennon, Aye\u00a0Visutrakaew,\u00a0Cath Heinemeyer,\u00a0Anais\u00a0Crane,\u00a0Sue Osborne,\u00a0Survi\u00a0Patel,\u00a0Phil Roberts, Amarjit Ahluwalia, Simon Parker , Esme Madill\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              The dance , the food and the atmosphere\u00a0\u00a0that the singer from the Lura Folk group who had come from Albania for Free and the singer Vera Picari who is also a volunteer at Shpresa was amazing !\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              The team of the\u00a0researchers from\u00a0the\u00a0LOHST\u00a0project, the staff from Croydon\u00a0drop in\u00a0 and the team, from Miclu dance\u00a0with everyone\u00a0\u00a0and enjoyed , the presentation , the\u00a0 food\u00a0, the signing\u00a0\u00a0and the award\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Everyone left feeling wonderful.\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Celebrating the international day of volunteering\u00a0 5th\u00a0December 2021\u00a0 \u00a0 Over 100 volunteers and staff got together to celebrate the international volunteer day at Ilford. There\u00a0 were\u00a0\u00a0speeches from staff , young\u00a0volunteers, […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3659"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3665,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3659\/revisions\/3665"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}