“When we come to ‘ASAN Service’ or any other state institution, agency, or building, the first people who welcome us are volunteers,” Zarina Mirabdullayeva, Regional Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia at the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, said during the event titled “The ASAN Model in Urbanization: The Role of Public Services and Volunteerism” held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, APA reports.
She noted that volunteers shape people’s experience with state institutions: “Whereas interaction with state institutions is often stressful and confusing. People do not know where to go or whom to approach. But this model removes all the stress right from the beginning. You enter the building and are greeted by someone who is there to help you and welcome you, and immediately the stress of questions like ‘Which desk should I approach?’ or ‘Where should I go?’ disappears. We see this every day in daily life.”
She stressed that this need will grow even further in the future: “Cities will expand, life will become more stressful. We are moving toward urbanization, technology, and innovation. Of course, this is important and inevitable. But if we lose human connection in all these processes, then it will become more difficult for us to live in such a world. This is my personal opinion. Volunteers are exactly the bridge that creates this connection. They connect us with daily processes, people, and life. When I think about volunteerism, another question arises. During crises, major events, disasters, or climate-related problems, who are the first to appear? Usually, before politicians and before international organizations, volunteers are there. It is the same in everyday life. The reason I touch on this issue is that this year is the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development. If we are talking about sustainable development, we must make volunteers part of everyday discussions. Because volunteerism is no longer a random activity done once a month. It is a major force behind development, and we must begin to view it that way.”
