Widening Our Horizons

At a time of world crisis , this paper calls for proponents of volunteerism to join together in a rethink of priorities and programs. Managers of volunteer programs and volunteers are challenged to take a big picture approach and see volunteerism as a powerful tool in reassessing values and activities and in building constructive relationships between individuals, cultures and nations. As we know, volunteering provides citizens with the opportunity to take the initiative, have a voice and build community. Actions can be taken which focus attention on values and long-term goals that are important in life. Some examples of possible responses, covering a range of interest areas, are given as a starting point for readers who are keen to widen their horizons and institute initiatives aimed at making this world a more tolerant, equitable and cohesive society.