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9 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,A pril 15,2021 w aterloochronicle.ca Learn more about the Conversational English Program at www.kwmulticultural.ca/volunteer To our amazing volunteers, THANK YOU! 95new volunteers joined the Conversational English Program. Over120 English learners were matched with a conversation partner. Over 1,500 volunteer hours were contributed to the community. KITCHENER-WATERLOO MULTICULTURAL CENTRE The Volunteer Action Centre of Waterloo Region has experienced the highs and lows of the pandemic alongside its community. There are daily phone calls from people who want to volunteer but many volunteer programs are on hold or closed permanently. Jane Hennig, Executive Director of the Volunteer Action Centre shares "We hear from volunteers missing their programs, and clients missing those same programs and the volunteers that have become such a large part of their organizations community. Most of all, we hear from volunteer managers that are overwhelmed with the role of supporting the pandemic or the task of redesigning volunteer roles to provide community support in new ways". Volunteerism in Waterloo Region is active, and volunteers are providing their skills and expertise in new ways to support their community. In this past year, we have seen the people of Waterloo Region step up time and time again. They are involved in food delivery, housing and shelters, animal care and a variety of mental health support. They are working shifts at the vaccine clinics and are helping to maintain community programming wherever it is safe and permissible to do so. More and more volunteers are contributing informally by helping neighbours during this time. Hennig, who has been with the Volunteer Action Centre for 20 years, is clearly impressed with the contribution of volunteers in the community. "People are willing to step up, even when they are aware of the associated risks. I am constantly in awe of volunteers and their commitment to the broader community". April 18th to 24th is National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Week is a specific week set aside each year to recognize the significant contributions that volunteers make, in or around the community, province, and nation. The passion and skills of volunteers enhance the ability of organizations and their staff teams to deliver valuable programs to the community that would not be possible if it were dependant solely on paid positions. 2021 is the 20th Anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteer (IYV). In 2001 the United Nations chose to profile the importance of volunteerism. That year changed public awareness and respect for volunteers around the world. Volunteer Canada in partnership with over 200 volunteer centres across Canada, has chosen to mark the IYV anniversary by reinvigorating and updating the theme, "The Value of One, the Power of Many". The goal, to share the story of the VALUE and impact that one volunteer can make, and the POWER provided by the millions of individuals and groups that volunteer to really make a difference and create change in Waterloo Region and throughout Canada. CONTRIBUTED CONTENT Volunteer Action Centre Wants to Thank the Volunteers National Volunteer Week is April 18th to the 24th