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Newsletter
MAY 2011
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THIS MONTH'S TOPICS
1. TIP: Three reasons for submitting feedback
2. EXPERIENCE: Supporting NGOs, governments and the UN in addressing development challenges in Africa
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1. TIP: Three reasons for submitting feedback
We continue to respond to some of the most common questions asked in our user satisfaction survey conducted in January 2010, with a special focus on the use and benefits of providing feedback. 21% of volunteer respondents indicated that they had never used the feedback functionality offered on the website. Here are some important reasons why you should:
To let the organization know what you liked or did not like about your collaboration
The feedback form is an excellent way of sharing with the organization you supported on an assignment what you found positive about your online collaboration. It also gives you the chance to educate it on behaviour that you experienced as negative. The feedback submitted and shared by volunteers counts towards an average displayed in the organization’s account. Organizations can immediately see which aspects of their interaction with volunteers need improvement.
To let us know how satisfied you are with your online volunteering experience
Your feedback is closely monitored by the Online Volunteering service and enables UNV to not only keep track of users’ satisfaction with their online collaboration, but also to follow up and take action on issues reported in which organizations manifest inappropriate behaviour towards volunteers, such as asking volunteers to donate money or to raise funds.
To receive the certificate
Your completed feedback form is a prerequisite for the organization with which you volunteered to be able to issue your certificate of appreciation. You can view the feedback submitted by the organization as well as the certificate in the Feedback & Certificates received section of your account.
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2. EXPERIENCE: Supporting NGOs, governments and the UN in addressing development challenges in Africa
On the occasion of Africa Day on May 25th, which marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, now known as the African Union, we present a selection of online volunteering opportunities posted by organizations across Africa. The opportunities reflect the diversity of organizations benefitting from the support of online volunteers as well as the various ways in which volunteers can contribute to Africa’s development from anywhere in the world.
Botswana: Stimulating public support for the development of child-friendly policies
To foster media presence and engender broad public support for the development of child-friendly policies in Botswana, the UNICEF office in Botswana will engage online volunteers as writers of well-researched opinion pieces that will be submitted to Botswana-based media in the run-up to special events such as the Day of the African Child.
Cameroon: Helping a local museum preserve cultural heritage
The Musa Heritage Gallery is concerned with the preservation of the artistic and cultural heritage of the Grassfields region of Cameroon. Online volunteers are supporting the museum’s outreach activities by designing and translating brochures, posters and other promotional material, updating the museum’s international contacts database, identifying potential donors and partner institutions and thus helping the museum build a local audience as well as attract tourists to the region.
Cameroon: Advising local council on raising funds for the delivery of basic services
Belo is a small town based in the North-West Region of Cameroon. The local council of Belo is responsible of providing basic services to the community. Online volunteers are providing guidance and advice on raising funds for activities such as the construction of schools, provision of potable water, providing better hygiene and sanitation facilities and the development of road infrastructure.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Improving living conditions in remote rural area
Online volunteers are supporting the NGO « La ferme aux arbres de Dekese » with the drafting of project proposals for various agricultural and livelihood initiatives benefiting the population of the province of Dekese, located in the remote central Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to redesigning the organization’s website and presence in social networks to improve its appeal to donors, online volunteers contributed to the development of funding strategies for two of the organization’s projects aiming for the re-integration of war-affected women and children.
Namibia: Providing legal opinion on the implications of Namibian laws on volunteerism
UNV supports the formulation of a national policy on volunteerism in Namibia. To identify potential legal challenges, UNV Namibia engaged an online volunteer to do a desk review of Namibian laws and analyze their potential implications on volunteerism in the country.
Pan-Africa: Supporting capacity development of organizations serving blind persons in Africa
The African Union of the Blind is an umbrella organization of over 50 organizations working for blind and partially sighted persons in Africa. Its mission is to strengthen member organizations through capacity building and advocacy. By translating the annual report, action plan and knowledge products from English to French and vice versa, online volunteers are helping the organization facilitate communication between and with their Francophone and Anglophone member organizations.
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Photo: NASA/JPL/NIMA
