Summary: Volunteer Training

The volunteer training session was aimed at the 150 volunteers participating in almost all aspects of the World Civil Society Forum (WCSF).

Ms. Viola Krebs, Director of International Conference Volunteers (ICV) and Deputy Coordinator of the WCSF, first presented the objectives of the Conference and then introduced some practical information regarding the WCSF Volunteer Program. Ms. Kathy Monnier, Project Coordinator of ICV then presented the volunteer group coordinators. The session ended with a visit of the International Conference Center of Geneva (ICCG).

After presenting the four goals of the Forum, Ms. Krebs briefly introduced the program and structure of the event. She pointed out that volunteers were the “human face” and the “backbone” of the WCSF, without whom the event would not be possible. Ms. Krebs then introduced the 17 volunteer teams involved in the event: welcome desk, registrations, payments, copy center, information booth, bag packing, volunteer office, volunteer cafeteria, interpreters, online news reporters, transport, badge checking, program coordination and signs,  room supervision, civil protection shelter, village and flexible team. Each of these teams has one or several group coordinators.

Ms. Monnier introduced the coordinators and explained that they were the focal points for the volunteers, when helping in a particular domain. Ms. Krebs made reference to the personal schedules handed out to all volunteers and explained that they had been created based on each volunteer’s availability, skills and interests. She urged the volunteers to inform both the group coordinators and the volunteer office of any schedule change. She further invited the volunteers to sign up every morning and sign out every evening with Ms. Monnier at the volunteer desk to allow a general overview. She explained that the volunteer desk was also the volunteers' main meeting and information point, where, if a particular task was canceled, volunteers were assigned to the “flexible team”, a team of volunteers helping wherever help is most needed.

All volunteers were given the “Forum Volunteer Guide”, a practical handout with information regarding both the contents and necessary contacts of the event, a program, a personal conference badge and a volunteer t-shirt to be worn at all times while volunteering.

The session was concluded with two guided visits through the Conference Center, one in English, one in French.

Click here for all available presenters' documents
Click here for all available summaries

Please read about the summaries