THE 13TH IAVE ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONFERENCE

“Volunteer Initiatives for a Sustainable Global Community: Climate Changes, Poverty, Conflict, and Natural Disasters”

The 13th IAVE Asia-Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference took place on October 28-31, 2011, in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

In line with the theme, the conference embraced four tracks – Climate Changes, Poverty, Conflict, and Natural Disasters. In addition to these four tracks, the Conference had opportunities talking about special issues specific to volunteering: corporate volunteering, volunteer management, volunteer centers, and definition of volunteerism.

The Asia-Pacific region is a densely populated area where about 70% of the world’s population dwell. it has been showing dynamic and rapid economic growth with the world’s largest number of billionaires. Unfortunately, however, these socio-economic developments and changes brought about immense environmental problems and loss of cultural identities.

The largest impacts of climate change and natural disasters are also in the Asia-Pacific region. Such serious and continuous cases indicate that the region is suffering from the adverse impacts of climate changes and natural disasters. Such catastrophic events also lead to poverty and conflict, as they damage human wellbeing and often contribute to social instability.

The conference offered opportunities to rethink whether we are fully aware of these issues and if our volunteering practices are effective in protecting our global community against these precarious and inevitable life conditions of our generation. The conference highlighted that the issues and problems that we face cannot be managed only by governmental or corporate efforts. Participants discussed that volunteers, volunteer managers, and all other stakeholders from diverse sectors need to discuss and share how to live together, to cooperate, and to make common agenda for action.

The Speakers
Excellent speakers gave presentations on the theme. There were 5 plenary speakers and 3 special lecture speakers for two Plenary Sessions, 8 speakers for 4 forums on the tracks of the theme and 8 speakers for 4 forums on the special topics. 57 workshop speakers gave presentations for 23 workshop topics.

Among the plenary speakers, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and Mr. Sombath Somphone, both of whom are the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award winners, gave inspiring speeches on poverty reduction and volunteering. Her Royal Highness Princess Azizah Sultan Iskandar of Malaysia spoke on how climate changes, poverty, conflict and natural disasters are interconnected and how volunteering can help overcome these issues.

Also:

• Dr. Eun-Kyung Park, the president of Korea Water Forum, emphasized that we had to raise awareness on the urgency of “eco-efficiency” and “reduction of carbon foot-print” and the role of volunteers in Sustainable development. 
• Prof. Fumiko Mega showed the importance of the volunteers in disaster relief of March 11th earthquake in Japan. 
• Dr. Sam-Uel Lee, the Director General of Ecopeace Asia, presented excellent examples of volunteering in conflict resolution in Asia region. 
• Mr. Hyun-Jin Moon, the founder of World Service for Peace, talked about the effective community development driven by developing excellent volunteer programs. 
• Dr. Yun-Jie Lee, the Minister of National Youth Commission of Taiwan, gave a special lecture, “Toward Good Governance – the Implications of Volunteer Services in Taiwan.”

About the Conference
The conference was co-hosted by IAVE, Volunteering Korea, Gyeongsangnam-do Volunteer Council. and the conference organizing committee and was organized by Gyeongsangnam-do Volunteer Council and Gyeongsangnam-do Volunteer Center. The Conference included a “youth forum” as a part of the conference program, organized by the Korea Work Youth Agency.

The conference involved 719 delegates, including speakers, from 36 countries with 522 delegates from Korea and 197 delegates from 24 countries in the region and also from Africa, North America, South America and Europe. The conference was built on the efforts of 47 staff persons and 100 volunteers.

There were field visits after the closing ceremony in five sites including the “millennial anniversary of the Tripitaka Koreana world culture festival.”

THE CONFERENCE STATEMENT
At the closing ceremony, the participants also adopted a statement declaring their intent to put forward more efforts to spread and expand volunteer activities. It says:

1st, Volunteering & Climate Changes
The conference discussed methods and tools for cooperation and considerate actions in many levels from individuals to the global community, as we get more exposed to threats to our lives and the ecosystem caused by climate change. The conference emphasised that volunteering is crucial in providing solutions and alternative lifestyles for those affected.

2nd, Volunteering & Poverty
It is now well recognized Volunteer efforts are necessary to achieve MDGs set up by the United Nations to reduce poverty in the world. The conference discussed different ways and means used by volunteers to reduce poverty through improvement of education, community development, etc.

3rd, Volunteering & Conflict
Conflicts break out for many reasons: religion, cultural differences, race, history, territorial disputes, limited resources, etc. The conference brought out the fact that such conflicts, however, cannot be resolved without open communication, dialogue and deeper understanding of various interest groups to create peace.

4th, Volunteering & Natural Disasters
One of the most prominent roles of volunteers is natural disaster relief work. The effect of Japan and Thailand’s disaster was on the foremost of recent experiences and critical lessons learnt were shared. It was realized that it was time to step up to better policy, strategy, implementation/management for volunteer works for sustained preparedness.

5th, International Cooperation
In this new global era, international cooperation for volunteering are strongly needed especially for disaster relief and poverty reduction.

We are going to sustain our collaborative efforts among Government, Corporations and NGOS/NPOs in making effective partnership, developing better programs and establishing efficient volunteer management systems.

A SPECIAL STATEMENT FROM THE IAVE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES IN ASIA-PACIFIC
National Representatives are volunteers – individuals, often with the support of the organizations with which they are affiliated – who have stepped forward as IAVE’s “on the ground” representatives in 40+ countries throughout the world.

At the closing ceremony, the IAVE National Representatives from the Asia-Pacific region announced their “Changwon Agreement” that will guide their collaborative work. It reads:

SEEDS
We, IAVE National Representatives, agree to:

• Strengthen communication between and among National Representatives s in the Asia-Pacific Region;
• Embrace collaborations between and among volunteers and the volunteer-involving organizations in Asia Pacific Region;
• Encourage IAVE membership from at least 16 to 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region by the next regional conference;
• Design and promote “International Volunteer Day” at the country and regional levels.
• Sustain the ‘spirit’ of volunteering in the global community.

INSPIRING PRACTICES IN CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING SHOWCASED AT THE CONFERENCE
[This report comes from Sarah Hayes, consultant director of IAVE’s Global Corporate Volunteer Council, who coordinated the sessions on corporate volunteering at the conference.]

Many thanks are due to Samsung, a founding member of IAVE’s Global Corporate Volunteer Council (GCVC), for its sponsorship support and commitment to the conference.

Participants who attended the workshops and forums focused on corporate volunteering were treated to some of the most interesting and innovative practices being carried out in Asia, as well as some very charismatic personalities.

IAVE’s GCVC companies were well represented at the conference. Speakers from those companies included Chang Insung and Park Manwoo from Samsung, Mr. David Boyd-Thomas from UBS in Hong Kong, Vivian Fung from Hong Kong Disneyland. Lee Yoon-Ah and Shim Jin-Kyung from SK Telecom in Korea brought along a whole team of enthusiastic university students involved in SK’s “Sunny” Volunteer Program, an innovative initiative involving hundreds of university students across Korea, and which has branched out into other countries as well.

Additional corporate speakers included Hamid Rahim from Rahim Motors in Kashmir, Mr. Kim Hyong-dong from Gyeongnam Bank, educational activist and radio personality Casey Lartigue, and Shalabh Sahai from iVolunteer in India.

Employee volunteering continues to be a growing component of many company CSR efforts. Employees themselves are dedicated to numerous issues across the globe, some of which include environmental causes, education, bridging the digital divide, disease and disaster prevention and recovery. A great number of these important topics in employee volunteering were addressed by the speakers.

The 13th IAVE Asia Pacific Regional Conference was a wonderful setting to showcase how companies and their dedicated employee volunteers are making a difference throughout Asia. Thanks to all who brought their ideas and passion to this event.

VOICES FROM THE CONFERENCE
[Too often we rush from one activity to another without expressing our appreciation for the one just ended. Here are some wonderful thoughts from IAVE leaders who participated in the 2011 Asia-Pacific regional conference.]

Dr. Kang-Hyun Lee, World President, IAVE, to Yoonae Park, IAVE National Representative, South Korea

The conference was a great success for all delegates who participated. I know that you could not sleep so many nights for this conference and prepared a statement for the conference although it was not planned. I deeply appreciate your effort to this conference and thank you million times. Without your dedication to this conference, it could not happen.

I also would like to express my sincere gratitude to all National Representatives in the Asia-Pacific, region even those who were not able to participate with various reasons since they were very cooperative to make this conference happen.

Indira Dasgupta, Asia-Pacific Regional Representative to the IAVE Board of Directors, to Yoonae Park

Thank you very much indeed for gifting IAVE Asia Pacific with such a wonderful and high quality conference. It was wonderful to know you as a person who worked with such high efficiency in a quiet, confident and humble manner , attentive to every detail. I hope you will continue to engage with and further the strength of IAVE in years to come.

The Conference felt like a family reunion since the size was 'just right'. The food was scrumptious and the ambience heartwarming. The speakers were well chosen and the speeches set wonderful directions in what constitutes the 'spirit' of volunteering amidst poverty , conflict and natural disasters.

With warm regards and good cheer, a toast to the job well done!

Win Mektripp, IAVE National Representative, Thailand
It's more than “thank you” to the Changwon conference. Your enthusiasm and peaceful effort was more than what we can see and expect. The support of the conference organizing committee has [given a] great chance for Thai delegates and speaker to join conference, more than before.

Debbie Huang, IAVE National Representative, Taiwan, to Yoonae Park
We are so pleased to have the first agreement among IAVE National Representatives at this moment. Yoonae, you have created such a good environment and atmosphere for us to work together. You have shown the respects to all NRs in this conference and let us feel connected.

Undral Gombodorj, IAVE National Representative, Mongolia
For me it was my first participation in an IAVE live event. Attending live events is one of the best ways to network, connect with amazing people, build relationships and learn from inspiring speakers. Plus, live events are where the SEEDS of mutually beneficial partnerships are often planted. It was for me a super valuable and energizing experience! THANK YOU ALL again and again!

Akiko Seto, IAVE National Representative and President, IAVE Japan
First of everything, I, on behalf of the Japanese delegates, would like to express a special and deep appreciation to Ms. Yoonae Park for all her dedicated effort and work. We have been aware well of her humble attitude with a strong mind of responsibilities inside. We also would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to all the persons who hosted the conference and support the participants in many ways with voluntary spirit.

The conference was most meaningful to be held in Asia Pacific region. Since you set the registration fees reasonably low for the youth and adult participants, we could send 32 Japanese participants. Conference theme was very timing and we could share our experience with many overseas delegates regarding the Great Northeastern Earthquake. It was a huge natural disaster, however we learned a lot how we have to face such calamity as human being.

Susie Bugante, IAVE Philippines
On behalf of the Philippine delegation allow me to express our commendation for the excellent preparations and conduct of the 13th IAVE Asia Pacific Conference. The warm hospitality you have shown and the enthusiasm and helpfulness of your young volunteers have truly helped our stay in Changwon a truly enjoyable and memorable one.

We have learned so much, not only about the topics discussed in the conference but also about Korean culture and way of life. Kamsa hamida and congratulations!

Likie Lee, Hong Kong
On behalf of the HK delegates, we'd also like to send our deepest appreciation to Ms Yoonae Park and the Korea volunteers for their dedicated effort in making the conference a great success. They all did a great job in every aspect; and we can feel the hospitality, well-organization and spirit of volunteerism all around in the conference. Thank you so much for all your great effort ! We appreciated it very much !