In this age of globalisation, it’s not just big business that spreads its tentacles to all four corners of the world. Volunteer organisations have been doing this for years, and one good example of these is Australian Volunteers International (AVI). On its homepage, AVI notes that it works in an increasingly globalised world characterised by poverty, climate change, global financial and political instability, and pandemics. For this reason, AVI’s vision is to contribute to a: peaceful, just and sustainable world; a world of respectful global relationships where all people have access to the resources they need, the opportunity to achieve their potential, the right to make decisions about the kind of development they want and to participate in the future of their communities.

Its values are ‘guided by principles of equity and social justice, integrity, diversity and inclusion, partnership and respect for human rights’.

In 2012, AVI was honoured at their celebration of sixty years of volunteering in Hanoi. Mr Vu Hong (on behalf of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) presented AVI with the prestigious Friendship Medal. This is a real turnaround from the days of the Vietnam War (when Australia and North Vietnam were deadly enemies) and the early years following its end in 1976. In recent times, Communist Vietnam has taken some steps towards opening up its economy, but poverty remains an issue, as does spreading inequality and deforestation. Health has improved for the Vietnamese, but traffic accidents, air pollution and discharge of wastewater into rivers have increased due to the larger population.

Clearly, there is a huge amount for an organisation like AVI to do, and it has been working in the territory since 1985. In total, about 380 personnel have been deployed in Vietnam since 1985, but there were only 21 placements in July 2011. Over the years, its AVI volunteers have included teachers (especially English language teachers), nurses, foresters, and helpers to deal with duck plague and increase pig nutrition.

QUESTION

What other types of volunteers can organisations like AVI engage in order to assist developing countries that are attempting to embrace a market economy?

Transcribed Image Text:

VOLUNTEER ITEE YOLUNTEER VER