Inauguratie Paviljoen Europees Jaar van het vrijwilligerswerk 2011 in Warschau (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Pools voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2011 i, gepubliceerd op donderdag 1 september 2011.

Volunteering benefits all of society. Its values should therefore be promoted and better laws should be enacted to bolster it organisationally.

The inauguration of the European Year of Volunteering 2011 Pavilion in Warsaw has focused on assistance to the disabled. On 1stSeptember 2011 guests visiting the Pavilion set up in Warsaw’s Plac Defilad met volunteers and non-governmental organisations involved in helping the handicapped.

The Pavilion’s first-day programme was prepared by the Government Plenipotentiary for the Disabled. Visitor had an opportunity able to chat with the volunteers.

The Pavilion’s official guests included Mr Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jaroslaw Duda, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Professor Irena Wójcicka, Under-Secretary of State in the Polish Presidential Chancellery and Ms Ewa Synowiec, Director of the European Commission’s Representation in Poland.

According to Minister Jaroslaw Duda, the European Year of Volunteering is a unique occasion for the values associated with volunteering to permanently take root in the social awareness and produce benefits in future. ‘The volunteers who are involved today in efforts benefiting others as well as those who have yet to embark on that road will find inspiration here,’ Minister Duda said.

of State at the Foreign Ministry Mikolaj Dowgielewicz emphasised three crucial areas of the volunteer presence during the Polish Presidency — activation of the job market, demographic challenges and collaboration of the non-governmental sector with the authorities.