5 December
2009
International Volunteer Day Celebrations – Mohlomi Hospital
They came from
different parts of the world, and from different nooks of Lesotho.
Their age, cultural background and academic qualifications were
varied. But they all had one thing in common: the spirit of
volunteerism.
On 5 December, over one hundred international and local volunteers
gathered at the Mohlomi Hospital to celebrate International
Volunteer Day 2009. This year’s theme was 'Volunteering for Our
Planet'.
The volunteers
started with a march to the hospital with placards bearing messages
of volunteerism, volunteering for the planet and taking care of the
environment. The aim of the event was to inspire people to act now
for the environment.
The hospital
ground, packed with people, saw different volunteer organizations,
international and local cleaning the hospital grounds, collecting
garbage, removing rubbish and cutting the grass. The patients and
staff of the hospital joined the volunteers in all the activities.
They ended activities of the day by planting flowers at the main
entrance of the hospital.
The UN Resident
Coordinator a.i., Mr. Bhim Udas, the hospital Administrator and the
Chief of Lithabaneng delivered speeches on the occasion. The
Administrator and the Chief of Lithabanebg thanked the volunteers
for showing interest in the hospital and the patients of Mohlomi
Hospital and celebrating IVD with them. A representative of the
patients read a speech to thank everybody who came.
The patients
entertained their guests with song and dance. Afterwards, the
volunteers gave gifts of toiletries, cleaning materials and clothing
to the patients and the hospital. The event finished of with
patients and volunteers sharing a meal.
Mohlomi Hospital is
situated in the outskirts of Maseru City, and caters for over 40
mental patients from all over Lesotho.
The UN General Assembly
established International Volunteer Day (IVD) in 1985 to make
visible the vast contributions of volunteers to economic and social
development globally. IVD is celebrated worldwide on December 5 and
is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the contribution of
volunteers worldwide.
Contact the UNV Programme Office
You can call us at 2231 3790,
ext.326 (Orfhlaith Ramsey) and ext.327 (Ntsieli Tlahali). We are
based in UNDP at UN House, United Nations Road, PO Box 301, Maseru
100. For email, write to
momoh.jimmy@undp.org
and Ntsieli.Tlahali@undp.org
. We look forward to hearing from you.
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