Description
Volunteering Identity Card – Quality, Impact and Value project proposed by VOLUM Federation contributes to creating and implementing of tools and mechanisms of working and collaboration for NGOs that involve volunteers in their activities in Romania and also for national and local authorities in order to improve the visibility of volunteering results to a national level and also to implement correctly public policies in volunteering field. We propose system of quantification of the economic value of volunteering and measurement of impact, we train organization to assure safety and security during volunteering activities. 150 organizations are direct beneficiaries together with NGOs representatives, experts from various fields, national authorities. The expected results are capacity building for 150 NGOs and promoting of a favorable setting for NGOs sector, involving 400 citizen in activities and 4 authorities, 500 volunteers, 20 professionals who will develop key competencies, 1 initiative for public policies and involving of 1 federation together with its partner TechSoup.
Summary of project results
The project contributes at creating and implementing specific tools and at fostering the collaboration between organisations involving volunteers in Romania. The aim was improving the visibility of volunteering movement’s results at a national level, towards a correct implementation of public policies on volunteering. With the support of the partners from TechSoup Romania Association, VOLUM Federation managed to create the first volunteering management online software, that has the potential to become, in time, a unique data supply instrument at national level. It was conceived with the help of Microsoft Romania and developed by their local partner - Aleman Software Group. The software was piloted by 10 members of the Federation and later promoted and tested by over 70 other organisations, including human rights organisations. The software allows managing documents and information for volunteers involved in an NGO, providing real time data on projects, activities and volunteers. Also, the software provides the documents required by Volunteering Law no 78/2014 and other supporting documents. Thus, its main goal is to monitor the volunteers' involvement and to provide data that will help optimise this component within each organisation. Another objective of the project was to strengthen the capacity of organisations to apply efficiently the Volunteering Law in what regards safety and health for volunteers. Thus, VOLUM Federation entered into a strategic partnership with the Romanian Association for Safety and Health at Work, and with their help, the promoter managed to train 20 inspectors in Safety and Health at Work, which can now provide these services to NGOs. Also, the "Health and Safety Guide for Volunteering Activities" was created. It includes the necessary documentation and models of training for volunteers, depending on the types of activities, and was presented in 10 cities. The project had an important component of empowering VOLUM Federation, which consisted in organising the General Assembly and 2 Board of Directors. These two meetings had a vital role in the election of the new Board, and thus supported the structure for next 3 years of activity of the Federation. 15 organisations joined the federation during the project, improving national representativeness and legitimacy.
Summary of bilateral results