You are here Home > What we do in Thailand
What we do in Thailand
Partnerships and activities
In late 2006, UNV provided a national consultant to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to help consolidate information and best practices based on the volunteer experience in Thailand. This is an initial but important step towards the development of volunteer infrastructure in Thailand.
UNV has also supported the establishment of a National Center for Giving and Volunteering (NCGV), by undertaking a background study on volunteerism in Thailand and recommending strategic directions for the Center. The Center was endorsed by the Cabinet on 4 December 2006 and officially launched on 29 May 2007.
UNDP Thailand through its International Partnership Development Programme helped NCGV set up the Thailand Volunteer Web Site Initiative. The Thai-language website is called www.konjaidee.com (literally ‘person with a good heart’) and features numerous non-profit foundations, government and religious organizations, as well as volunteering opportunities in Thailand. People from all walks of life can volunteer to be involved with them.
While the NCGV has made considerable and impressive progress in terms of generating public interest in volunteering for part-time, short and long-term assignments, they have also expressed a desire to work with UNV to further develop its corporate strategy, resource mobilization plan, and staff capacity. UNV is exploring opportunities to involve the NCGV in regional or international events/forums where volunteerism and volunteer infrastructure will be discussed. In the meantime UNV remains an advisory body to NCGV.
In 2008, UNV partnered in a 4-year regional joint programme on prevention of gender-based violence with UNDP, UNFPA and UNIFEM. UNV contributes 450,000 USD to the programme. This includes the recruitment of international and national UNV volunteers, as well as support for study and research projects. The programme covers seven countries in South Asia and South-East Asia.
This year, UNV Thailand is also involved in the organisation of the International Volunteer Day and His Majesty the King's birthday in Korat, one of Thailands major municipalities.
"Volunteering for our planet" activities consist of planting trees to create a low carbon city. The trees will be symbolically given to His Majesty the King as a birthday gift.
Volunteerism for Development and Peace
The Royal Government of Thailand signed the UN resolution that created the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) and undertook multiple activities in 2001.
The Royal Government of Thailand has designated a Thai Volunteer Day, which is celebrated every year on 21 October.
In May 2007, the Thai government initiated a policy to give civil servants 5 days of leave to do volunteer work.
Marking the 80th Birthday of His Majesty the King, the Government launched a volunteer project in 2007, which aimed to provide “8 million givings, 8,000 projects, and 8,000 leave days" to government employees and the general public who gave their time to volunteering.
In 2008, UNV funded a designated programme officer for Thailand. Extra funding was also provided for a study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and volunteerism in Thailand. This took stock of current CSR initiatives already underway. This research recommended concrete action to guide both UNDP and UNV in their approach to working with the private sector in Thailand.
As mentioned above, in 2009, the environment is the focus area for UNV: Volunteering for our Planet.
