UNV to launch youth volunteer document next year

Accra, Dec.18 GNA- The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Programme will next year launch a comprehensive document that aims at utilising the full potential of the youth in volunteerism to facilitate the socio-economic development of the country.

The 34-page document entitled: "The Socio-economic impact of Volunteerism in Ghana", outlines specific interventions that would speed up the development through volunteerism.

Mr Joseph Oji, UNV Programme Officer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Thursday that the official launching of the Document would be followed by a National Advocacy Policy Initiative to strengthen volunteerism.

He said a policy on volunteerism was very useful for a developing country like Ghana to encourage individuals and corporate groups to contribute their quota to socio-economic development. He mentioned "Kinapharma, a Ghanaian pharmaceutical company, which donated drugs worth over 20 million cedis for a free medical care programme organised by the UN and the Ministry of Health for Nima community in the Greater Accra Region.

" Such a generous gesture should be rewarded through tax rebate to encourage the company to make further donations in future as it is the practice in most developed countries", he said.

Mr Oji said the outreach programme covered a large number of people from all walks of life who were treated from various ailments and supplied with drugs.

He said, "The World Health Organisation (WHO) would be brought on board next year to extend the programme to other communities in the country".

Mr Oji who gave an overview of UNV interventions for 2003 said over 135 youth groups were trained in Youth Leadership, Strategic thinking, Project Proposals, Project Financing and Record Keeping. He expressed the hope that the year 2004 would witness a more proactive youth capacity building programme in the country to promote volunteerism.