Volunteer Resource Centres

Background

The development sector in India has emerged from Volunteerism and Volunteer led Action. Many civil society organizations mobilize services of volunteers from both urban and rural background who are engaged in development processes, bringing about an impact in their own lives and the community with which they are working. There are a lot of preconceived notions and myths surrounding volunteering. For instance – it is generally assumed that volunteering is a one off gesture wherein one sets apart a specific time for a progressive cause. There is a also a lack of a formal structure/processes such as Volunteer Management Systems and processes in India.

Introduction
Volunteer Resource Centres are self facilitative library on Volunteerism and Volunteer Resource Centres. The objectives of setting up Volunteer Resource Centres has been summed up as follows
 Connecting prospective volunteers with suitable opportunities and avenues
 Provide necessary information to the Organizations/ Movements on all aspects of Volunteering
 Creating a network which shares the best practices of volunteering which will in turn facilitate a process of building the capacities of Organizations/ Movements in this aspect

Lets Volunteer strives to create and support creation of Volunteer Resource Centres both in Urban and Rural areas of India.

Methodologies
 Creating Sustainable Models of Volunteer Resource Centres in both urban and rural areas
 Virtual Library on Volunteering
 Sharing of best practices on Volunteering
 Creation of a data base of National Volunteers
 Supporting Organizations in creating Volunteer Management Systems
 Action Research on Volunteering through collaborated efforts
 Impact Assessment of Volunteering Programs

1. Connecting prospective volunteers with suitable opportunities and avenues as exhibited by -
 Number of Volunteer Placements facilitated by Volunteer Resource Centres
 Number of young people accessing Volunteer Resource Centres
 Number of application forms received by Volunteer Resource Centres

2. Provide necessary information to the Organizations/ Movements on all aspects of Volunteering as exhibited by documentation and research on
 Volunteer Management Systems
 Assessment study measuring the impact of volunteering projects on young people, Organizations and Communities etc
 Information and Communication Material(IEC) on Volunteering

3. Creating a network which shares the best practices of volunteering as exhibited by –
 Organizations creating and supporting Volunteering Resource Centres
 Participating in the process of reviewing their Volunteer Management System (Volunteering Audit)
 Participating in the Action Research on Volunteering
 Supporting the process of creating a date base of Volunteers

How can we partner together
1. If you are an Individual
 We would connect you to various volunteering opportunities with Organizations and Movements in India
 We would connect you to of volunteering various workshops, campaigns and festivals across India
 We could collaborate a co create a Volunteer Resource Centre

2. If you are an Organization
 We would place information related to your programs at the Volunteering Resource Centres
 We can support in creating your volunteer management system and strengthening management systems
 We would support you in creating a Volunteer Resource Centre in your own organizations
 We would support you in assessing the impact of volunteering both at the individual and organization level