International Volunteer

During last spring a consultation was launched on the European Union sports competence. The results, published on July 28th show the need for EU to support social, educational and health functions of sport activities all related to volunteers work.
Many civil society organisations had been voicing their concerns about how national legislation within European Union have made the recruitment of sport volunteers , specially the younger ones, more and more difficult.
By nominating 2011 as the ‘European Year of Voluntary Activities‘, the EU “hopes to increase the recognition and popularity of volunteering across Europe, and encourage the exchange of best practice between member state”
According to the consultation one of the challenges for European Commision is the availability of sport and physical activity at all levels of education. Some skateholders point that other issues to deal with are “the lack of stable funding for grassroots sport and the predomination of commercial aspects of sport over its societal value”.
However, many aspects of sport-specific topics and issues to improve are not part of the EU’s mandate as defined in Article 165 of the Lisbon Treaty. As an example, European Union financing small local sports clubs can only be dealt with at national or regional level.
Meanwhile an experts’ report identifies health-enhancing physical activity as higher priority in EU sports programme.

Volunteering has been grown since its existence. All over the world, there are many volunteers stretching their hands to those less fortunate people. However, as a volunteer did you ever think of the benefits you can get out of it aside from self improvement or self-fulfillment? Aside from it, the benefits you can get from volunteering are health benefits. Yes indeed! Research has been conducted since the past two decades that volunteering could contribute health benefits to individuals. It has been said in the research that those people who give time to volunteer later on their life would have lower rates of depression.

Research also shown that those volunteers with old age could gain more health benefits. This is because of the possibilities that they are determined to face whatever the risks or it could give them the social and physical activities. With the 100 hours of voluntary work, the more health benefits you can get. Accordingly, the evidence shows that volunteer work gives on social psychological factors. In return with this it can defend the poor physical health of every volunteer. Regarding on the research studies between volunteering and health most of the studies are focusing on the old ones. These are the people who were at risks to depression and illness.

This is in relation to make these people to live longer, healthy lives and independent. It also been said that volunteering does matter on age when it talks about the program’s positive effects in psychological, mental and social. For young, volunteer opportunities have different benefit experience compared to those old ones. This is because of the obligations that they were engaged with such like parenting, teaching and more. With this research study, it is more likely advice for older volunteers to participate in volunteering to have a healthy lifestyle.

“She walked far and canoed far to get to these rumored boat giving bed nets. To save the life of her four children affected by Malaria; Bed nets that meant life or death by these people. Bed nets that could be given by volunteers like you! ”

Malaria is a disease transmitted by disease-carrier mosquito to the people. People who got Malaria especially infected by Plasmodium falciparum got a very life-threatening situation. It is an illness of the blood. Malaria could be found worldwide. The sad thing about Malaria is science have not yet developed a vaccine against this disease. But we can take medicines to prevent Malaria which is much better than no prevention at all. And people who live in infested area can use bed nets or mosquito nets.

Volunteers are needed by these countries to fight against Malaria. Doctors, nurse, medical staff, anybody from laboratory experts to the common people are encourage in fighting Malaria through prevention.

The next person who can save the lives of hundreds of people could be you. By simply being a part of people who hand out bed nets or mosquito nets as you balance yourself in a boat in one of the rivers in Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia or Angola.