The voluntarism contributes 3% to our gross domestic product and it has an average return of 5 euro per euro!

The VOLUNTARISM mobilizes over 100 million Europeans for good causes each year!

The VOLUNTARISM supports the solidarity between generations, the cultural dialogue and the social responsibility!

Dear colleagues,

We, the people from the civic organizations, know that the voluntarism is an expression of free will, but it needs admiration. The volunteers need and deserve support from all of us – the voluntary organizations, the state authorities on all levels, the business, as well as a good policy, concerning the funds for voluntary work.

As you may know, during April this year five members from the European Parliament presented a written declaration for announcing 2011 for the European Year of Voluntarism. On 10 July this year the members of the European Parliament accepted the declaration that is an appeal to the European Commission to announce 2011 for the European Year of Voluntarism. Bulgarian civic organizations actively participated in lobbing the Bulgarian members in the European Parliament to support the declaration and in this way they join the efforts of European organizations and platforms, representing a million of volunteers. 

In this context and in relation to the coming International Day of Volunteers /5 December/, the Tulip Foundation and the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law initiate a campaign for accepting a Law on Voluntarism in Bulgaria, after a public discussion of the draft text of the law with civic organizations. The law will regulate the rights and the responsibilities of volunteers, as well as those of the organizations who have volunteers. Lots of the member states of the EU have such laws, which shows clearly their engagement with the issue on voluntary work. 

In 2007 a draft Law on Voluntarism was prepared by a group of voluntary organiztions, including the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, the National Alliance for Work with Volunteers and the Bulgarian Red Cross. You can download the draft text from here….   

We turn to you with the appeal for supporting the initiative and spreading the information among your partners, organizations, colleagues and media, you are working with.

Support the campaign as sending a short “I support”, the name of your organization and the office address on the e-mail info@tulipfoundation.net.

We count on your support in order to meet the International Day of Volunteers – 5 December 2008 with a Law on Voluntarism. 

Greeting and wishes for successful work

Reneta Veneva
Director

Maria Petkova
Director

Luben Panov
Director