Volunteering is a fundamental instrument for the growth of democracy. Europe believes in its strengthening and
intends, with the European Year of Volunteering, to promote the involvement and the participation of European
citizens.
At the moment one hundred million of European people areactive in a voluntary service and the main objective of
the year is to develop this part of active citizens. In order to raise the goals the activity of all the European
countries all involved and active to support the volunteering. Is very important.
This is what has come out during the international conference on “Volunteering for Democracy”, organised as
part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, jointly by ALDA and the Bydgoszcz City Hall, that was held in
Bydgoszcz, Poland (8th of July).
The event, which main aim was the promotion of voluntary services and civil participation, represented the
launching event of the first Polish Presidency of the European Union for Kujavy and Pomerania Region.
It was attended by 150 representatives from civil society groups and local governments from all over Europe.
Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, participated and opened the Conference
with a speach (public/doc/342-Whitmore-in-Bydgoszcz-ALDA-volunteering-Jul-8.pdf).
“What we need today – stated Mr Whitmore – is the practical partnership between local and regional authorities
and the volunteer sector, and a practical framework for their cooperation. The authorities at the grassroots
should support voluntary organisations, help with the training of volunteers and provide guidance in voluntary
project management. They should themselves set a good example by actively participating in voluntary projects.
A particular attention should be paid to involving young people and youth organisations, including setting up
youth councils or assemblies at local and regional levels. Our objective should be to bring together local and
regional authorities and civil society to spread expertise and good practices, raise awareness and encourage
exchanges of experience – in other words, to build partnerships for the benefit of our citizens and the
improvement of local democracy and self-governance”.
John Macdonald, Representative of the European Commission, Head of Task Force European Year of
Volunteering, addressed the audience through a video message underlining the role of volunteering for the
growth of citizen participation and democracy.
“The event of such kind – stated the Mayor of Bydgoszcz, Mr. RafałBruski– is exactly what we need locally and
regionally. A phenomenon of participation is what local community sees as democracy. The visible need to
promote formal and non-formal levels of these activities is both: a task for and ambition of local authorities of
Bydgoszcz. I am sure this experience has shown a path and clear direction for public institutions and non-
governmental organizations”.
ALDA President, Mr. Per Vinther, underlined that wherever people help and support those in need, society gains
in cohesion and democracy. This is why ALDA and its members work to promote the active citizenship and the
civil participation both in Member States and neighboring countries.
The conference included formal and non-formal participation; representatives of several European Ngo’s and
Institutions illustrated the experiences of their organisations and countries inthe field of voluntarism.
The conference was part of a three-year VIT project (Very Important Twinning) – “Europe for Citizens”
programme. The project envisages 20 international events.
Polish EU Presidence (http://pl2011.eu/en/content/international-conference-volunteering-democracy)
COE website (http://www.coe.int/t/congress/default_en.asp)
VIDEOCLIP CITY HALL BYDGOSZCZ (http://youtu.be/u85o0rCS1h8)
CONFERENCE PRESS CLIP (http://public/doc/345-
ALDA_CONFERENCE_VOLUTEERING_FOR_DEMOCRACY_BYGDOSZCZ_08_07_2011_PRESS_CLIP.zip)
CONFERENCE WWW CLIPPING (http://public/doc/344-
ALDA_CONFERENCE_VOLUTEERING_FOR_DEMOCRACY_BYGDOSZCZ_08_07_2011_WWW_CLIPPING.pdf)
Italian Ministry for labour and social policy- DG voluteering
(http://www.destinazioneeuropa.eu/calendario/dettaglio.asp?idevento=168&idambito=1)
Kujawsko-Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki W Bydgoszcz (http://www.bydgoszcz.uw.gov.pl/)
Kujawsko-Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki (http://www.kujawsko-
pomorskie2011.pl/index.php/wydarzenia/konferencje/73-wolontariat-dla-demokracji)
http://en.recreatura.com (http://en.recreatura.com)
Photogallery
ALDA CONFERENCE VOLUTEERING FOR DEMOCRACY, BYDGOSZCZ 8 OF JULY 2011
(photogallery_dett.php?id=14)
ALDA CONFERENCE VOLUTEERING FOR DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP 1 BYDGOSZCZ 8 OF JULY
2011 (photogallery_dett.php?id=15)
Volunteering is a fundamental instrument for the growth of democracy. Europe believes in its strengthening and
intends, with the European Year of Volunteering, to promote the involvement and the participation of European
citizens.
At the moment one hundred million of European people areactive in a voluntary service and the main objective of
the year is to develop this part of active citizens. In order to raise the goals the activity of all the European
countries all involved and active to support the volunteering. Is very important.
This is what has come out during the international conference on “Volunteering for Democracy”, organised as
part of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, jointly by ALDA and the Bydgoszcz City Hall, that was held in
Bydgoszcz, Poland (8th of July).
The event, which main aim was the promotion of voluntary services and civil participation, represented the
launching event of the first Polish Presidency of the European Union for Kujavy and Pomerania Region.
It was attended by 150 representatives from civil society groups and local governments from all over Europe.
Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, participated and opened the Conference
with a speach (public/doc/342-Whitmore-in-Bydgoszcz-ALDA-volunteering-Jul-8.pdf).
“What we need today – stated Mr Whitmore – is the practical partnership between local and regional authorities
and the volunteer sector, and a practical framework for their cooperation. The authorities at the grassroots
should support voluntary organisations, help with the training of volunteers and provide guidance in voluntary
project management. They should themselves set a good example by actively participating in voluntary projects.
A particular attention should be paid to involving young people and youth organisations, including setting up
youth councils or assemblies at local and regional levels. Our objective should be to bring together local and
regional authorities and civil society to spread expertise and good practices, raise awareness and encourage
exchanges of experience – in other words, to build partnerships for the benefit of our citizens and the
improvement of local democracy and self-governance”.
John Macdonald, Representative of the European Commission, Head of Task Force European Year of
Volunteering, addressed the audience through a video message underlining the role of volunteering for the
growth of citizen participation and democracy.
“The event of such kind – stated the Mayor of Bydgoszcz, Mr. RafałBruski– is exactly what we need locally and
regionally. A phenomenon of participation is what local community sees as democracy. The visible need to
promote formal and non-formal levels of these activities is both: a task for and ambition of local authorities of
Bydgoszcz. I am sure this experience has shown a path and clear direction for public institutions and non-
governmental organizations”.
ALDA President, Mr. Per Vinther, underlined that wherever people help and support those in need, society gains
in cohesion and democracy. This is why ALDA and its members work to promote the active citizenship and the
civil participation both in Member States and neighboring countries.
The conference included formal and non-formal participation; representatives of several European Ngo’s and
Institutions illustrated the experiences of their organisations and countries inthe field of voluntarism.
The conference was part of a three-year VIT project (Very Important Twinning) – “Europe for Citizens”
programme. The project envisages 20 international events.
Polish EU Presidence (http://pl2011.eu/en/content/international-conference-volunteering-democracy)
COE website (http://www.coe.int/t/congress/default_en.asp)
VIDEOCLIP CITY HALL BYDGOSZCZ (http://youtu.be/u85o0rCS1h8)
CONFERENCE PRESS CLIP (http://public/doc/345-
ALDA_CONFERENCE_VOLUTEERING_FOR_DEMOCRACY_BYGDOSZCZ_08_07_2011_PRESS_CLIP.zip)
CONFERENCE WWW CLIPPING (http://public/doc/344-
ALDA_CONFERENCE_VOLUTEERING_FOR_DEMOCRACY_BYGDOSZCZ_08_07_2011_WWW_CLIPPING.pdf)
Italian Ministry for labour and social policy- DG voluteering
(http://www.destinazioneeuropa.eu/calendario/dettaglio.asp?idevento=168&idambito=1)
Kujawsko-Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki W Bydgoszcz (http://www.bydgoszcz.uw.gov.pl/)
Kujawsko-Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki (http://www.kujawsko-
pomorskie2011.pl/index.php/wydarzenia/konferencje/73-wolontariat-dla-demokracji)
http://en.recreatura.com (http://en.recreatura.com)
Photogallery
ALDA CONFERENCE VOLUTEERING FOR DEMOCRACY, BYDGOSZCZ 8 OF JULY 2011
(photogallery_dett.php?id=14)
ALDA CONFERENCE VOLUTEERING FOR DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP 1 BYDGOSZCZ 8 OF JULY
2011 (photogallery_dett.php?id=15)