INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS DAY, 2020

The United Nations has set aside the 5th of December as the International Volunteers Day -IVD. The theme for this year is “Together We Can”. This is a clarion call towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The IVD is in honor of the millions of people who are the engine room of humanitarian activities all over the world, even in its most volatile regions. These actors dedicate their skills, time and other resources to the welfare of others.

A grass roots Community Based Organization (CBO), Volunteering for Youth Development and Social Impact Initiative –WEVO enlisted Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation’s participation in the 2020 IVD. The aim of WEVO with this invitation was to give back to the society, celebrate volunteers and volunteering and help to advance GWAF objectives.

It was a full day event segmented into 2 parts: the hours between 9am - 12noon took place at the UNILAG / Abule-oja community where over 50 young people, volunteer members of WEVO, educated the locals on Alzheimer’s Disease and distributed our IEC materials. The second session was an indoor event held at CIBN Learning Centre, Yaba. 5 guest speakers shared various experiences about volunteering, emphasizing the importance of community development and the immeasurable role volunteers play in building the society. About 200 WEVO members and invited guests were present in the auditorium.

The intervention impacted over 500 residents in the UNILAG/Abule-Oja community and over 200 people who were present at the indoor session were indirectly impacted by the guest speakers who spoke on various aspects of volunteering and Alzheimer’s Disease. In recognition of GWAF’s contribution to societal development, GWAF was honored with an award by WEVO. The award was received on behalf of Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation, by Ms. Olatoun Gabi Williams, a Trustee of GWAF.