The Embassy Takes Part in the International Conference on Volunteerism in Prague

November 4, 2011

Natasa Diatkova, coordinater of the conference.

David Gainer and Brigitte Luggin at the conference.

At the occasion of the EU Year of Volunteerism, the Department of Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Interior organized on October 31 the International Conference on Perspectives of Volunteerism in Extraordinary Accidents and Crises. The conference's main goals were to survey the work of volunteer corps at natural disasters and emergencies; present upcoming administrative restructuring and management of volunteerism in the Czech Republic; and examine projects of future cross-border cooperation.

The participants were welcomed by General Miroslav Stepan, Interior Ministry Director General of the Firemen Rescue Corps, and Jitka Gjuricova, Interior Ministry Director of the Crime Prevention Department, and a former participant of the International Visitor Leadership Program in 1996. David Gainer, Cultural Attaché of the United States Embassy in Prague, spoke about his personal experience when he, as a young man, volunteered in the U.S. Peace Corps in Africa.  Ms. Brigitte Luggin, EU Commissioner to the Czech Republic, talked about issues of volunteerism in EU countries.

The conference brought together volunteers and members of the firefighter corps, rescue and emergency units, the Czech Republic Red Cross, charity organizations like Caritas, Czech Evangelical Church Diaconate, and ADRA NGO, and centers of volunteerism who shared their experience in presentations and discussions.  The conference was coordinated by Natasa Diatkova from the Office for Implementation of Czech Voluntary Acts and Grants of the Interior Ministry Department of Crime Prevention, who was a participant of the U.S. Department of State program “Volunteerism: United We Serve“ in 2010.