NEWSLETTER JULY 2013
WELCOME MESSAGE On behalf of the World NGO Day Initiative’s Secretariat we would like to introduce you to our new monthly newsletter. Since the beginning of the year we have been very busy introducing the international initiative to various new partners around the world. And from today we will keep you updated on a monthly basis. We also welcome any NGOs stories from around the world who would like to be features in our monthly newsletter which we intend to share with our global network of NGOs network and governmental supporters.
MAJOR ACTIVITES OF 2013 JANUARY 2013
The World NGO Day initiative carried out several discussions with UNESCO representatives who expressed the importance of the initiative and the need to bring it in front of the UN General Assembly. With representatives like Mr. Eric Falt Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information of UNESCO; Ms. Sabina Colombo - Chief of ERI/NCS/ NGO of UNESCO; Mr. Genc Seiti - Director of Division of National Commissions and Civil Society of UNESCO; Mr. Patrick Gallaud - President of UNESCO-NGO Liaison Committee; and Ms. Anne Huhtamaki, Deputy Finland’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
UPCOMING EVENTS Upcoming events this Summer
The youth team of World NGO Day Initiative is looking forward to organising this summer Google Hangout online conferences streaming them live via YouTube, in order to discuss, brainstorm and exchange ideas about various topics with NGO leaders around the world; Creating a new NGO, the people behind NGOs, social Innovations trough NGO, NGOs collaboration with SMEs, NGO and Social Media, career within NGOs and NGOs guerrilla marketing. Everyone is welcome to join, please e-mail us by the end of July: info@worldngoday.com
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FEBRUARY 2013
Sixty three years ago 27 of February became an historical day for the NGO sector worldwide - the definition of “international NGOs” was introduce for the first time in a resolution by the United Nations. Following the recommendation of UNESCO and to mark this important and valuable recognition of the NGO sector worldwide and all the individuals behind them, the World NGO Day Initiative has decided to adopt this date as it new international calendar day.
MARCH 2013
The World NGO Day received an official conceptual support from the Kingdom of Bahrain. An official letter written on behalf of H.E. Dr. Fatima Mohammed Albalooshi - Minister of Social Development, the Kingdom of Bahrain: “We strongly support this important initiative establishing it as an official international calendar day - World NGO Day.”
APRIL 2013
Mrs Rasma Pipike, Board Director of the World NGO Day Initiative’s Secretariat and an avid supporter of the International Day met in NYC with Mr Chuck Hitchcock, Chair of the United Nation NGO / DPI Executive Committee. The NGO / DPI expressed their support and the meeting was a fruitful one.
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QUOTES FROM OUR GOODWILL AMBASSADORS
“The international day for NGOs could be an important mile stone for the UN Millennium Goals 2015, since the NGO sector is an important partner in order to achieve those goals - for a better civil society contribution, participation, and acknowledgement.” Ms. Aicha Bah Diallo, Vice President of NGO Liaisons Committee of UNESCO
MAY 2013
The Board Directors of the World NGO Day Initiative’s Secretariat - Mr Marcis L. Skadmanis and Mrs Leena Zittling - carried out successful discussions in Helsinki with Ms Anne Sipilainen, the Under Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland. Civil society is an important partner for the Finnish Government, and following the first governmental support of the Word NGO Day Initiative received in 2012 by Ms Heidi Hautala, Minister for International Development of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland - the Finnish Government is a key player in helping the initiative to achieve international recognition.
“The World NGO Day is an opportunity for NGOs to showcase their activities to all development stakeholders.”
JUNE 2013
Dr. Hezron O Mc’Obewa, NGOs Coordination Board in Kenya
We are proud to share that 14 young individuals from different countries worldwide - Finland, Belarus, China, Kosovo, UK, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam, Spain and Sweden - have joined the World NGO Day team, to raise awareness of the Initiative trough different exciting new campaigns and activities around the world.
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OUR GOODWILL AMBASSADORS WORLDWIDE We are honored to share with you that 20 worldwide civil society and NGO leaders from 20 countries and heads of organizations have become our Goodwill Ambassadors in recent months:
Ms. Aicha Bah Diallo (France and Guinea) Vice President of the NGO Liaisons Committee of UNESCO Mr. Taj Hamad (USA) Secretary General, World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations Dr. William F Shija (UK and Tanzania) Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Dr. Sakena Yacoobi (Afghanistan) Executive Director of Afghan Institute of Learning Dr. Mahabub Hossain (Bangladesh) Executive Director of BRAC and BRAC International, BRAC Centre Dr. Hezron Mc’Obewa (Kenya) Executive Director of NGOs Coordination Board Ms. Sharmila Karki (Nepal) President of the NGO Federation of Nepal
Ms. Nancy Gofus (USA) Chief Operating Officer of the Public Interest Registry, (PIR) (PIR is the official manager of .ORG and .NGO. domains) and Board Chair of Volunteers of America
Mr. Rayyan Hassan (Philippines) Executive Director of NGO Forum on ADB Secretariat
Mr. Chhith Sam Ath (Cambodia) Executive Director of the NGO Forum on Cambodia
Ms. Heather Mansfield (USA) Principal Blogger of Nonprofit Tech 2.0 and NGO sector
Mr. Suon Bunsak (Cambodia) Executive Secretary/Chief of Secretariat Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee
Ms. Khady Koita (Senegal) Co-founder and President of La Palabre and award-winning activist
Mr. Sugeng Bahagijo (Indonesia) Director of International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
Mr. Hayford Siaw (Ghana) Editor-in-Chief of NGO News Africa and United Nations Volunteers Award winner- 2010 & 2011
Mr. Guntis Ulmanis (Latvia) Former President of Latvia Major General Roddy Porter (UK) Director-General of the Royal Overseas League Mr. Filippo Addarii (UK) Executive Director of Euclid Network (the European network of civil society professionals)
Mr. Zafar Iqbal (Pakistan) Founder/Executive Director The NGO World Foundation
Ms. Sung-Joo Kim (South Korea) Chairwoman and CEO of MCM Holdings and SungJoo Foundation Ms. Zhanna Guzenko (Russia) Chair of the Barents Regional Youth Council
FEEDBACK & JOIN US The World NGO Day Initiative needs you! We are keen to receive feedback, suggestions and ideas for any activities and events celebration of this international day. For anyone who would like to volunteer, looking for an internship or partnership in order to help spared the word about the World NGO Day Initiative, you are more than welcome to contact us: info@worldngoday.com.
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© 2013 World NGO Day Initiative’s Secretariat