Nipuna Ambanpola was invited as one of the youth speakers for the Rotary-UN Day, held on November 12, 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA. He spoke about how IVolunteer International is contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. His address at the Young Leaders Forum was to inspire and reconnect youth around the world. The gathering included a full house of young leaders from around the world, Rotary and business leaders.
His address is as follows-
“In Sri Lanka, where I come from, just like in every part of the world, we believe in hope. In hope that when we look at our brothers and sisters around us, we will see them happy and successful thanks to our contribution to society as a whole. This ladies and gentlemen is the fundamental establishment of IVolunteer International.
The most heavily invested content in our organization is our vision. We spent hours and days brainstorming and perfecting the statement that is going to define us – and we created a fascinating piece of content. Our vision is “elevating the quality of human life across the globe.” As an organization established on hope and belief in community development, we wanted to open our hands wide and welcome any opportunity that will elevate the quality of human life.
As a result, we created a platform that provides the most important resource to social service organizations – volunteers. First, we partner up with organizations around the world and enable them to promote their opportunities through us to reach to individuals that may be interested in their cause. On the other hand, the volunteers are able to read the biography of the organization, their timeline and job description and make the decision to sign up and volunteer.
We believe that when we connect individuals to volunteer with different organizations under different causes, we expand their understanding, enhance their cultural sensitivity and contribute to a united community. In the same time, we provide them opportunities to get involved with organizations in their immediate community, without any strings attached, for causes they care about, whenever they are free. This way, we not only connect them to causes that are may only be important to their lives, but will also be important to other people’s lives in their community.
We strongly believe that when we increase community engagement by bringing in opportunities for individuals to engage, we contribute to SDG10, which is Reducing Inequalities, specifically contributing to help empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.
This tallies back to our organization’s core. When we all get together to contribute to what is important to our community as a whole, we are able to look at our brothers and sisters around us and know that they are happy and successful because of all of us through reduced inequality, inclusivity, and community engagement.”
For the photo album, click here. – Twitter tags have #RIUNDAY
