Volunteer Programs
DENEYE values the concept of volunteerism in all its programme implementation and it is upon this concept that the organization was founded just a few years ago. In fact, two of its founders (Shalid and Charles) were working as volunteers with different organizations in the country.
DENEYE, therefore, reviewed its volunteer programme approaches with a view of maximizing the potential and provide unlimited opportunities to various categories of people within Malawi and beyond to contribute positively towards the activities that the organization and its local partners are implementing in the country.
Our volunteer programs are now grouped into:
- a) Local Volunteer Programme
- b) On-line Volunteer Programme
At the same time, DENEYE seeks to offer the platform on which the volunteers themselves can enhance their learning.
Our volunteer concept is based on the following general understanding and definitions of the term "volunteerism":
- Performing an act of kindness, freely giving of your talent, time, and effort for a simple fulfillment of community expectations.
- Performing activities of one’s own free will that provide services to the community without monetary reward.
- It is an expression of active participation in the life of a community.
In all the categories highlighted above, the following are some of the benefits that volunteers may realize:
- Personal growth.
- Giving something back to the society one belongs to.
- Bringing about social change
- Friendships, support, bonding and a sense of belonging
Online Volunteer Program
It doesn't matter which part of the world you are in! With the World Wide Web (www) and Facebook, anyone can still volunteer with DENEYE to bring some positive changes in our society, particularly in the lives of girls and children.
By joining the Internet community, we can also help change people's lives. That is how the idea of on-line volunteerism - or what technocrats in this field call "cybervolunteerism" was born.
Under the On-line Volunteer program, DENEYE is focus on promote the meaningful use of modern information technologies, particularly Internet, for knowledge sharing and volunteer work.
Youth participation advocacy
Essentially, youth participation is related to ideas of citizenship, personal development and active involvement in society.
Community Based Partnerships
DENEYE works primarily at district level and works with youth led groups and other partners.
The principles underpinning youth participation are:
- Empowerment: Youth having greater control over their lives through participation.
- Purposeful engagement: Youth taking on valued roles, addressing issues that are relevant to them, and influencing real outcomes.
- Inclusiveness: ensuring that all Youth are able to participate.
DENEYE’s youth participation in practice are:
- Youth being consulted about their ideas and opinions
- Youth planning or leading community activities or events
- Youth taking part in adult-defined decision-making bodies
Why youth participation?
DENEYE identified three main justifications for youth participation:
- Human rights: Articles 12, 13 and 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child state that Children/Youth have the right to express their own views freely; the right to freedom of expression (including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds); and the right to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
- Radical empowerment: for those who see Youth as an oppressed or marginalised group in society, youth participation is an opportunity to give them greater control and more power in their lives.
- Positive youth development: where Youth’s participation in adult structures prepares them to become model citizens and assists their personal and social development. (It’s worth reflecting upon the term ‘positive’ youth development as being open to different types of interpretation.
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