#ivd2016

Last month, the International Volunteer Day was marked in Kenya on two occasions - first on the globally recognized 5th of December, and secondly on the 10th of December 2016 as a National Volunteer Day.

The United Nations General Assembly set aside this day through a Resolution in 1985 and it has since been a celebration of the important role volunteers play in society. This year, President Uhuru Kenyatta called on Kenyans to volunteer some of their time towards causes aimed at helping communities.

G-United volunteers heeded this call selflessly and took to their schools, churches, communities and towns to help where they could. In Kajiado for instance, volunteers visited Betania Home where, in addition to reading with some of the children, they offered some motivational talks to teens and offered some dry foodstuffs.

.@MachakosGPS volunteers planting trees around Machakos City with County officials and Education Ministry reps. #VolunteerKe pic.twitter.com/dY0W0OoKuR

The children of End Times Childrens’ Home in Meru County were delighted to receive the G-United volunteers who also came with goodies and words of wisdom and encouragement, whereas in Kilifi, the volunteers took part in some clean up activities. Overall, also West Pokot, Samburu, Nyeri, Kisumu, Kisii, Machakos and Busia Counties witnessed a lot of activity around the International and National volunteer Days.

Kajiado volunteers at Bettania Home celebrating #IVD2016 Have you volunteered today in your community or neighbourhood? #VolunteerKE pic.twitter.com/1w4OHIEhON

Ministry of Education officials and County Directorate of Education officers weren’t left behind either, as they also helped out the volunteers with these activities meant to mark the global and national dates.

We got the chance to briefly catch up with G-United Cohort 3 President Harrison on these activities and this is what he had to say:

GU: What does IVD mean to you?

HK: To me as Volunteer, the International #VolunteerKE Day meant that our undying and dedicated service to the society has and always will live on through the lives we directly and indirectly have an impact on.

GU: What did G-United volunteers get upto on #IVD2016?

HK: Despite being spread out across the country, G-United Volunteers spoke with one voice and agreed to engage in activities aimed at promoting National Cohesion. This was largely done by interacting with the community through means such as: visiting children's homes, offering some youth mentorship, planting trees and also taking part in town clean up activities. These took place in each of the 10 counties where volunteers are deployed to in the second cohort of the program. Thanks to some well wishers as well as personal efforts, Christmas came early to some homes for the aged and underprivileged families, with donations to them for the festive season.

GU: Wow, that’s all quite a feat, and seems to have required a lot of coordination and direction. How do you manage to provide leadership?

HK: Well, it was a tall order honestly, but there’s a great structure spearheaded by Team Leaders across the counties who are very cooperative. Being a leader isn't straight and forward - especially a volunteer leader. In most cases even the most dedicated of volunteers do experience a lack of inspiration and motivation. It’s therefore important to remind myself of the fact that as a volunteer leader, I have the duty to change this. I always have to encourage, engage and motivate them to keep being the change that we want to see in society.

GU: What’s your message to volunteers across the world?

HK: Wherever they are,  keep doing the great work of service to humanity - it is service from the heart. Volunteering in Kenya is a great experience!  We all just have to have the heart to do what is right; not only for us,  but for everyone else. May they keep doing what they do and making the world a better place for us all.  The future lies in the present, and if we can't have the heart to commit to a present change,  then the future is dead.

Our volunteers and Kilifi County Education officials cleaning up the environment for National Volunteer Day activities in the County. pic.twitter.com/kqduaCGyrV

Registration to join Cohort 3 of G-United is NOW OPEN. Click here