Remarks by the UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi on International Volunteer Day
As RC, on behalf of the UN System in Sierra Leone, I want to recognize the laudable efforts of all our volunteers here today and across the country.
The Senior Officer, Directorate of Response & Relief, National Disaster Management Agency
United Nations colleagues
NDMA, Freetown City Council and Sierra Leone Red Cross volunteers
United Nations Volunteers
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world today is at a crossroads. Sierra Leone, a member of this comity of nations, has not been spared whether in dealing with natural crises or human-induced ones, or in addressing issues around the country’s development priorities. For us in the UN System, this is done through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the SDGs targeting an end to poverty, inequality, and climate breakdown by 2030.
As a family, notwithstanding dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly two years now, we still find time to gather and celebrate you, our volunteers, every year since 1985. Volunteers are helping us to build back forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At last year’s International Volunteers Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lauded the efforts of volunteers in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “Around the world, volunteers have been assisting vulnerable groups, correcting misinformation, educating children, providing essential services to the elderly, and supporting frontline health workers.” That statement still holds today in the key role that volunteers continue to play in the fight against the pandemic and in addressing issues around climate change and the environment, in education, in the health sector, social protection, and many other areas.
The theme for this year’s International Volunteers Day is “Volunteer now for our common future”. We aim to inspire decision-makers and citizens of this country to take action NOW for people and the planet. When people are encouraged to get involved in solving problems, the solutions are more likely to be feasible and lasting. Volunteers engage communities and build a people-centric movement to help build a better and safer future for us all.
Volunteering is giving, sharing, standing by others, supporting causes you care about and creating a better future for everyone.
As Resident Coordinator, on behalf of the UN System in Sierra Leone, I want to recognize the laudable efforts of all our volunteers here today and across the country, including volunteer frontline health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to recognize and pay tribute to all those volunteers and other emergency workers who responded to the devastating Wellington fire disaster.
Your commitment and dedication to service, often in difficult circumstances, will not go unrewarded. The world needs brave women and men who are daily putting in the hours and energy to make the world a better place, one action at a time.
I encourage you all to continue your work, volunteering for our common future.
Thank you, and I wish you all a very happy International Volunteer Day.
