OXFAM CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

Campaign volunteers at Coldplay concert in Ottawa

This year, millions of people around the world volunteered billions of hours to organizations and causes, and on December 5, the world will give them a resounding 'thank you!

Established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly, International Volunteer Day (IVD) is a chance for volunteer-involving organizations to recognize the contributions of their volunteers and to promote their work.

Oxfam Canada could not function without the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to community and campus groups, regional offices and campaigns. Without them, the journey towards a fair world, free of poverty and injustice, would be much more difficult.

Eliana Clay is one such volunteer who has committed herself to genderequality and confronting violence against women in particular. As a volunteer intern at the Oxfam regional office in Halifax for the last three months, Eliana has used her academic background in women's studies to raise awareness about violence against women during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violenceby collecting and pitching stories to local media.

'One woman who I interviewed told me later that whatever happened, whether the stories were published or not, I should know that the project was a success because it had gotten her family talking about violence they experienced when she was growing up, Eliana said.

'I almost cried. This is what it's all about getting people to talk, so that violence is no longer hidden, or something to be ashamed of. It is something very real, and very common, that we need to address in Canada and around the world... By creating this space for people to talk, Oxfam is making a real difference.

Working above and beyond her required duties, Eliana exercised her passion for ending violence against women by helping to plan a citywide vigil on Dec. 6 in commemoration of the 1989 Montreal Massacre. In the New Year, she will also be facilitating a workshop about violence against women with a local parent resource centre.

In Toronto, Fahad Ahmad is turning his passion for social justice and his experiences with Oxfam into a career. Before moving to Canada in 2006, he worked as an engineer for eight years, although he volunteered much of his time with social justice and human rights organizations. He was drawn to Oxfam eventsthatuse art and musicas a medium to advocate issues of social justice. Fahad eventually found himself more involved with the organization as a volunteer intern last summer in the Public Engagement, Campaigns and Advocacy Team.

'I was thrilled to be coordinating outreach and campaigning around summer events. Creating opportunities for volunteers and myself to talk to people about the For All campaign at festivals and other community events was very rewarding, he said. Today, Fahad continues to work with the Toronto community group to organize events.

The extraordinary work of Oxfam volunteers has not gone unnoticed on the East coast. Robyn Pardy of St. John's, NL, was profiled in the September 2008 issue of FLARE magazine as part of the FLARE Volunteer Awards. She was recognized for her work with Oxfam Canada and with the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland & Labrador as a widowed mother of two living positively with HIV/AIDS.

As part of an Oxfam partnership project with women's organizations in Lesotho and Zimbabwe and community groups in Newfoundland, Robyn drew inspiration from her own experiences to speak to women about the importance of being tested and speaking out against the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

Robyn, as well as each one of Oxfam's volunteers, proves that one person can make a difference. Their selfless dedication and hard work make organizations like Oxfam possible, which is why days like IVD are so important.