Wednesday, April 30, 2003

NetAid and United Nations Volunteers Programme Honor Outstanding Online Volunteers

Volunteers help others living a world away via the Internet

New York, NY, USA/Bonn, Germany – 30 April 2003 – NetAid and the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) programme today announced the names of the "Online Volunteer of the Year" (OVY) awardees for 2003. These 10 volunteers were singled out for having performed outstanding work for international development organizations around the world through NetAid Online Volunteering (OV), a free service jointly managed by NetAid and UNV. This program employs high-tech resources to connect skilled volunteers with international development organizations that need their help.

Congratulating the OVYs, Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the UNV programme said, "It is of great importance to recognize the contributions of people who make their time, skills, expertise and creativity available to others via the Internet. It is equally important to highlight that Online Volunteering generates many new opportunities for people to volunteer."

This year’s 10 OVYs originate from six different countries and have touched the lives of people living in both urban and rural areas of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The OVYs capitalized on their expertise to undertake diverse assignments such as conceptualization of fundraising plans, translation of documents, building of web sites and expansion of host organizations. Honorees were selected as a result of several factors: the difference they made for their host organization, the dedication they displayed, the innovative ideas and exemplary service they contributed, and the positive impact that volunteering has had on their lives.

The true beneficiaries of the OV program are the international organizations that engage the volunteers and receive their services. "Whether they were web designers, researchers, writers or marketers, these online volunteers have made tremendous contributions to their host organizations," explained Bea Bezmalinovic, NetAid Program Director of OV. "We hope that the recognition of these individuals will highlight their contributions and motivate more organizations to work with online volunteers."

Freedom from Hunger, a hunger-fighting organization based in Davis, CA, experienced these benefits first hand after working with OVY Kantamneni Raj Gopal Prasad of Plymouth, MN. "Although a volunteer, he treated Freedom from Hunger like a paying 'client,' delivering top-notch service and assuring 'client' satisfaction. He went above and beyond the call of duty by creating sustainability of the product he delivered," commented April Watson of Freedom from Hunger.

The 10 Online Volunteer of the Year Award recipients are just a few people who belong to a growing body of online volunteers. Since February 2000, NetAid Online Volunteering has netted a pool of over 10,000 volunteers to support nearly 300 organizations working in 60 countries. NetAid OV, powered by the staff of the UN Volunteers programme, allows volunteers around the world to overcome the barriers of distance and time by using the Internet to communicate with their host organizations. It utilizes sophisticated search tools to match specialized skill sets with specific needs, and provides those organizations that have good connectivity with an electronic platform to manage their work requests. OVs do not have to leave their homes to do most of their assignment work and are generally free to structure their volunteer hours around their changing schedules.

"I hope everyone who wants to make a difference but isn't sure where or how, will consider NetAid's services. It's the best way I know of to give something valuable to the international community and the world while getting in return far more than one gives," explains OVY Paul Fifen Chimy, a native of Cameroon who now lives in France.

This year’s Online Volunteers of the Year, their host organizations, and their respective country affiliations are:

• Paul Fifen Chimy (France) – Education for Development (Vietnam)
• Deborah D’Amico (Canada) – People with Disabilities Uganda (Uganda)
• Yasemin Gunay (Turkey) – MGBALA AGWA Youth Forum (Nigeria)
• Kantamneni Raj Gopal Prasad (USA) – Freedom from Hunger (USA)
• Lela Rachman (USA) – Pearls of Africa (USA)
• Stanley Tuvako (Kenya) – KAIPPG (Kenya)
• Mark Wireman (USA) – Lawyers Without Borders (USA)
• Anne-Catherine Yon (USA) – World Computer Exchange (USA)
• Xiaodong (Kelly) Zeng (USA) – Business Information Center, Stradja (Bulgaria)
• Miodrag Zivkovic (Serbia) – Zartonk-89 (Armenia)

Full stories of the OVYs’ achievements and experiences are highlighted on the NetAid site at http://www.netaid.org/ov/stories/ov_oftheyear.php.

Each of the honored Online Volunteers of the Year will be featured in the NetAid monthly newsletter Connections and will receive a certificate of recognition from Netaid and UNV.

About NetAid

NetAid is an independent non-profit organization (501 c3) based in New York. NetAid’s mission is to build a Network of people and organizations committed to ending extreme poverty around the world. This Network is engaged through NetAid’s portfolio of programs, which offer concrete and meaningful ways to make a difference in the lives of the world’s poorest people. These programs–all of which are supported by a strong Internet presence-—include NetAid Online Volunteering, the NetAid World Schoolhouse and NetAid World Class. NetAid was founded in 1999 by Cisco Systems and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

About United Nations Volunteers programme

Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is the volunteer arm of the UN system supporting peace, relief and development initiatives in nearly 150 countries. Created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNV works through UNDP country offices to mobilize volunteers -- two-thirds of them from developing countries -- and promote the ideals of volunteerism around the world.

To learn more, please contact Joy Portella, 212.537.5801 or e-mail jportella@netaid.org.