FCOSS Executive Director Mohammed Hassan Khan revealed the figure in a speech to mark the 10th anniversary of the International Volunteer Day.
Khan said the council for the last 55 years had championed the course of volunteering in Fiji. “Out of the 1,400 schools in Fiji only eight belongs to Government, the rest belongs to civil society organizations and are run by volunteers. They provide 140,000 hours of volunteering services.”
“Some 20,000 faith-based volunteers give 40,000 hours per week, nationwide development through their faith based organizations,” Khan added.
Zarina Begum, chairperson of the International Volunteer Day’s Committee, elaborated on the human dimension of volunteering, saying “this anniversary reminds us of the human dimension and power of the global volunteering effort.”
Begum said, “It contributes values to the social, economic, cultural and humanitarian well being of the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Volunteers can be found in all works of life.”
“From coaching in the sporting field, to counseling and advocacy of refugees, from baking cakes for a school function to planting trees and maintaining our wetlands.”
Begum also commended volunteers who give their time for the service of the elderly in society today.
The International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985, which is now celebrated worldwide with thousands of volunteers involved in a range of IVD initiatives including clean-up campaigns, conferences, exhibitions, morning teas and many other activities all aimed to highlight the role of volunteers in their communities.
