A project has been launched to strengthen volunteerism in China through the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Entitled "Strengthening Volunteerism for Development in China through the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games", the US$1.4 million initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of Olympics volunteers and through this process, to demonstrate volunteerism as an effective tool to achieve China's development targets.

The project was signed between the Beijing Olympic Games Volunteer Work Coordination Group Office, the Beijing Committee of the China Communist Youth League, and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges under the Ministry of the Commerce, the UN Development Programme and UN Volunteers Programme.

"UN Volunteers is proud to be part of the 2008 Olympic volunteer effort," said Ad de Raad, executive coordinator of UNV at the signing ceremony. "The world will see the remarkable dedication of volunteers at the Games next summer. Through this project with the Government of China we are hoping to illustrate how the ingenuity, solidarity and creativity of volunteers can contribute to achieving the nation's development targets."

The project is to conduct pre-games volunteer trainings for a core group of 10,000 Olympic volunteer leaders, managers and trainers in volunteer recruitment, management and recognition. It will also launch volunteer campaigns to raise environmental awareness in Beijing in support of the "Green Olympics" concept with various activities ranging from promoting energy efficiency and recycling to educating school children on how to live more environmentally sustainable lives.

The 3-year project is also aiming at continuous efforts in the post-games period by creating opportunities for Olympic volunteers and committed citizens to volunteer in several development fields.  Volunteers will be encouraged to take on assignments in the areas of poverty alleviation, health, education, gender equality and HIV/AIDS.

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