Why Do I Love Volunteering?
Photo by Giulia Boratto
Even though I am not able to support financially as much as I'd like for the causes dear to me, volunteering allows me to give back in a meaningful way. By dedicating some of my spare time to foundations, NGOs, and NPOs focused on #sustainability, #children, and #animals, I can contribute ideas, passion, and effort.
Volunteering is incredibly rewarding—not just because it feels good to do something positive, but also because it connects me with people worldwide and exposes me to new experiences beyond my daily job.
One fascinating thing I learned through volunteering is that the United Nations has declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024). This year will highlight the crucial role camelids play in the livelihoods of millions of households in harsh environments across over 90 countries, especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. From alpacas to Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas, these incredible animals contribute to food security, nutrition, and economic growth, while holding significant cultural and social value.
Camelids are the heroes of deserts and highlands, thriving where other livestock cannot. They advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fighting hunger, eradicating extreme poverty, empowering women, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Providing milk, meat, fiber, organic fertilizer, and transportation, camelids are indispensable to the communities in Andean highlands, arid, and semi-arid lands in Africa and Asia, including Indigenous Peoples.
The International Year of Camelids 2024 is an opportunity to raise awareness about their role in building climate resilience – particularly in mountains and arid regions – and to advocate for greater investment in the camelid sector. This includes fostering research, capacity development, and innovative practices.
#Volunteering #Sustainability #InternationalYearOfCamelids #YearOfCamelids #IYC2024 #CommunityImpact #CulturalHeritage #GlobalConnections #AnimalConservation #VolunteerStories
P.S. If you want to discover more, check out these insightful pages from the FAO: https://www.fao.org/camelids-2024/about/en and https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/We-are-camelids!-Have-we-met-/en.
P.P.S. If you're interested in supporting the conservation of guanacos, join me in calling for the protection of this native species: https://chng.it/rxzCxytHh4
