THE INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY 2022

The International Volunteer Day (IVD) is marked every 5^th of December to recognize and promote the tireless work of all volunteers across the globe.

The theme for this year’s celebration that is spearheaded by the State Department for Social Security and Protection in conjunction with among others, Volunteer Involving Organizations (VIO) Society, UN Volunteers (UNV), and the Volunteer Services Oversees (VSO) is Solidarity Through Volunteering.

The Day presents an opportunity to promote volunteerism, encourage all to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national level.

We join the international community in encouraging and appreciating the exemplary performance by our volunteers and call upon all citizens to volunteer their services, time, skills or any other way for the sake of our nation.

A bright future is guaranteed if only we act together. Let’s stand in solidarity.

Volunteer of the Year Awards

The highlight of the IVD 2022 will be the Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards to recognize and honour volunteers who have shown exemplary performance and dedication to service in building strong communities across the country.

VOYA AWARD CATEGORIES

The Volunteer of the Year Award 2022 will be in five categories. Each category has specific targets and criteria of selection as follows.

Please thoroughly read through each category before filling the nomination form.

CATEGORY A: INDIVIDUAL AWARD CATEGORY

1. Volunteer of the Year Award

A Kenyan national who is 25 years old and above.
Giving his/her time and skills as a volunteer in a community, a community organization or in an organization working with volunteers.
Served for a minimum of 3 years.
His/her volunteer service has made a difference in the community.

2. Youth Volunteer of the Year Award

A young person between the age of 12-24 years.
Giving their time and skills as a volunteer in a community or a community Organization or an Organization working with Volunteers.
Having served a minimum of 1 year.
His/her volunteer service has made a difference in the community.

3. International Volunteer of the Year Award

A non-Kenyan volunteering in Kenya in a community-based organization.
Served in that community/organization for a minimum of 1 year.
His/her volunteering service has made a difference in the community

4. Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award (VLAA)

Consistently engaged in volunteering activities for at least twenty-five (25) years and has attained national status and recognition in the field of volunteerism.
An individual volunteer who is a Kenyan citizen or a Kenyan Volunteer Organization or a local chapter organization of a foreign volunteer organization serving in Kenya.

QUALIFICATIONS/ATTRIBUTES

Consistently engaged in volunteering activities for at least twenty-five (25) years
Has attained national status and recognition in the field of volunteerism
Has been a recipient of national and international recognition/awards
Plays a significant role/contribution in promoting volunteerism and possesses the capability to mobilize others to support volunteer causes
Serves as a role model through a positive representation of volunteerism as a development resource.

CATEGORY B: LEARNING INSTITUTION CATEGORY

1. Tertiary Institution Volunteer Program of the Year Award

A learning institution i.e., polytechnic, college, university.
Has a program that allows its students to give their time and skills to community development initiatives.
The students’ volunteer service has made a difference in the community

2. Secondary Schools Volunteer Program of the Year Award

A school in Kenya providing secondary education.
Has a program that allows its students to give their time and skills to community development initiatives.
The students’ volunteer service has made a difference in the community

NB. There will be a special mention of contribution made by the group of students within the institution that enabled recognition to the institution.

3. Primary Schools Volunteer Program of the Year Award

A school in Kenya providing primary education.
Has a program that allows its students to give their time and skills to community development initiatives.
The students’ volunteer service has made a difference in the community

NB. There will be a special mention of contribution made by the group of students within the institution that enabled recognition to the institution.

CATEGORY C: ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATE CATEGORY

1. Volunteer Involving Organization of the Year Award

A community-based organization (CBO), Faith Based Organization (FBO), Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or any other civil society organization.
Works in development with and through volunteers.
Its work through volunteers has made a difference in the community

2. Corporate Employee Volunteering Scheme of the Year Award

A company registered and operating in Kenya that has an employee volunteering scheme or that has a structure that allows its employees to give their time and skills to community development initiatives.
The activities in which the employees have participated in, have made a difference to the community

CATEGORY D: SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARDS

1. Peace and Reconciliation Volunteer Award

A citizen of Kenya aged 18 years and above.
Has been involved in peace and reconciliation initiatives in a community through volunteering for the last 3 years.
Continues to give his/her time and skills to promote peace and reconciliation efforts in the community.
Has made an impact in the community

2. Community Engagement Volunteer Award

This is a recognition conferred to three successful volunteer projects which have had the greatest impact at community level.
The winner and two runners up will receive cash awards to upscale the project beyond the community.
Must be a community volunteer project completed in the last 3 years.

3. Diversity and Inclusion Award

The Award reflects contributions to diversity. Qualifications are:

A visionary organization advancing inclusion of people with disability and other marginalized groups in their volunteer work.
An organization with programs specifically targeting diversity and inclusion.
An individual with disability, or from a minority or marginalized group who has shown exemplary promise in their volunteer work.

4. Innovation Award

This award recognizes outstanding innovations, by a volunteer or organization advancing the spirit and practice of volunteerism and in the process encouraging organizations to continue investing in innovations.

An organization whose culture, volunteer programs and people are consistently delivering innovative solutions for their community.
A single volunteer project or program launched or updated in the last 12 months whose innovative approach has had a big impact in the community.
An individual whose skills or management style have led to the delivery of innovative solutions for a given community.

5. Environment and Climate Adaptation Award

The environment and climate adaptation award recognizes exemplary leadership from either an organization or individual in the field of climate adaptation and the protection of the nation’s vital natural resources and the people who depend on them in a changing world, through volunteerism.

CATEGORY E: GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES CATEGORY

Recognize the efforts by a Government Ministry that uses volunteers in a structured manner to advance its programs and activities.

Follow the link below to fill in the nomination form. You can nominate an individual or organization in up to three (3) categories.

Guidelines for nomination(s): Download Document

Nomination(s) Link : https://forms.gle/hnrmBgZwrAsfcTcc6.

Nominations for Volunteer Of the Year Awards (VOYA) 2022: Download Document

Good luck!