Spyros Neratzis - Municipal Department for Voluntary Work coordinator
volunteers
17 Sep 2019
/ 06:29
CORFU. There was an introductory meeting on Monday evening for the island΄s voluntary groups.
The meeting, which was also an opportunity to redefine relations between the Municipality and volunteers, was attended by long-established groups such as the Red Cross, Scouts and Guides, Lykio Ellinidon, Rescue Groups and Special Olympics and newer groups - The Ark, Recycling Centres etc - as well as informal groups and initiatives.
Spyros Neratzis, coordinator of the new Central Corfu Municipal Department for Voluntary Work, presented the Municipality's plans, which do not seek to create new groups or organisations but to support those already in existence in every way it can - either with material or intangible resources.
"The basic premise is that volunteerism mustn't replace the state's obligations or paid work, but be ancillary to them," said Mr. Neratzis.
Amongst the Municipality's plans is the establishment of a Volunteer Office, which will be a communications and support centre for the island's volunteers and voluntary organisations. The list of voluntary groups will be updated, with contact details and aims.
An annual list of joint voluntary activities will also be drawn up (Earth Hour, Let's do it Greece etc.) and an inter-organisational committee set up, which will meet every three months, with the Mayor attending, to present and discuss activities and initiatives.
Following a discussion, it was agreed to meet again on 16 October, when the organisations and groups will present their own proposals and the first broad lines of a plan will be drawn up.
Spyros Neratzis, coordinator of the new Central Corfu Municipal Department for Voluntary Work, presented the Municipality's plans, which do not seek to create new groups or organisations but to support those already in existence in every way it can - either with material or intangible resources.
"The basic premise is that volunteerism mustn't replace the state's obligations or paid work, but be ancillary to them," said Mr. Neratzis.
Amongst the Municipality's plans is the establishment of a Volunteer Office, which will be a communications and support centre for the island's volunteers and voluntary organisations. The list of voluntary groups will be updated, with contact details and aims.
An annual list of joint voluntary activities will also be drawn up (Earth Hour, Let's do it Greece etc.) and an inter-organisational committee set up, which will meet every three months, with the Mayor attending, to present and discuss activities and initiatives.
Following a discussion, it was agreed to meet again on 16 October, when the organisations and groups will present their own proposals and the first broad lines of a plan will be drawn up.
