SEMINAR ON VOLUNTEERISM IN MYANMAR

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement H.E. Dr. Win Myat Aye attended on Tuesday, 31st May a Seminar on Volunteerism in Myanmar organized in Nay Pyi Taw by the IVIO Network. The event, aimed at gathering relevant stakeholders to discuss the importance of volunteerism towards Myanmar’s development, was attended by representatives from Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education, Higher Education, Hotels and Tourism, Planning and Finance and Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. A large representation from national CSOs and UN was also in attendance.

The IVIO Network in Myanmar, composed as of today by eight member organizations – AIESEC, AVI, Cuso International, JICA, KOICA, Peace Corps, UN Volunteers and VSO – , was started in 2014 by UN Volunteers as an exchange space for best practices and ideas for such organizations with presence in Myanmar and comprises a total of 184 international volunteers contributing to national development efforts throughout the country.

Findings and recommendations from the Study on Urban Volunteerism in Myanmar, curated by UN Volunteers and Cuso International, were also presented during the event.

The Union Minister, as well as the key speakers, highlighted the importance of volunteers in Myanmar development and also as agents of change in their communities.