Volunteers represent a tremendous resource for any nongovernmental organization, from local nonprofits to international bodies. An effectively managed volunteer program can transform an organization from a few dedicated individuals to a powerhouse with vast human resources. With the goal of effectively harnessing the power of volunteers by strengthening the practices of volunteer management, IREX developed and piloted the Volunteer Management Training Course in three Russian regions in the fall of 2007.
The three-day trainings, conducted as part of the US-Russia Volunteer Initiative (USRVI) [10] in Irkutsk, Samara, and Ekaterinburg, trained over 80 NGO representatives from Irkutsk, Samara, and Sverdlovsk regions and the Republic of Buryatia in improving their organizations’ volunteer management practices. The trainings, based on curriculum developed by IREX in consultation with leading Russian and American experts, provided participants with the most current international expertise in volunteer management to effectively recruit, mentor, motivate, and evaluate volunteers.
During the event, participants also discussed the challenges and opportunities for the development of volunteerism in their communities and offered practical recommendations to NGOs, media, and local and federal governments for further promoting volunteerism in Russia. As leading practitioners and advocates of volunteerism in their communities, they see firsthand its benefits, the challenges to its development, and what needs to be done to strengthen volunteer initiatives and volunteer management practices. The recommendations put forth will be compiled in a report to be submitted to federal and local public chambers and distributed among governmental and nongovernmental institutions in Russia.
Even organizations with established volunteer programs commented on the value of the training in helping them structure and systematize their volunteer program and improve their organization’s capacity and management practices. One training participant noted, “I feel that the training has inspired me to spread my wings. I have a real goal now, and, even more importantly, I know how to reach it.”
