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Could you briefly describe the activities of your Organization, the International Volunteers Association?
International Volunteers Association (IVA) is technically a very young nongovernmental and nonprofit organization. But practically it is a syrup from the fruits of my past experience. I have been manager in a few big scale international NGO's which were very naive and helpful for people in need. In such big organizations you focus on projects rather than the people.
With International Volunteers Association we wanted to focus on people who are intending to spend effort in the charity area. Actually this project also closes a gap in Eastern Countries. While there are a lot of charity organizations in Western countries leaning on volunteers force, Eastern Charity organizations leaning on employee forces probably because of low employee costs and experience. As inheritor of the Ottoman empire, there are a lot of people giving unlimited help for charity works in Turkey as well but the same people cannot find environment for helping personally. IVA projects that use volunteers in Charity work not only in helping to achieve the aims but also prepare volunteers for the future, raising their compassion, making them understand the problems of helpless people and encourage them to be one of givers but not takers if possible.
Another objective of IVA is to help Turkish volunteers to exchange experiences with volunteers from other countries of the region and worldwide.
How did you become involved with WFO?
I first met with Dr. Deisi during a UN meeting 5 years ago. Beginning from that time I carefully watched what WFO does and how it does it. WFO can be example for any international Charity organization with its working discipline, organizing talent and economic and productive performance. I am very proud that I have attended all WFO Summits except with the exception of the first one.
You actively supported the accomplishment of the World Family Summit +5 last year in Istanbul, how was this experience?
After World Family summit+5 I can add another specification to WFO: Putting 1 and getting 10 for charity sake. First of all, I am amazed that WFO is planning every minor detail of next summit right after actual summit; I would say even during the actual summit. Announcing the place and partner organization of the next summit during this year's summit is just an announcement in view but that announcement needs a long marathon of talks, arrangements and brain storming. We know, for example, that next summit will be in Canada as last year in Cairo we knew +5 edition would be in Turkey.
Secondly, instead of leaning on professional companies WFO does as much as the works itself. This keeps the events soul while makes the summit sincere and economic as in the family itself.
Every attendee felt the sincere environment during the summit and I can say all participants become a huge family.
All these results happened in Istanbul Summit as it happened in previous ones. But, as a supporter of the WFO Summit+5 personally, I can say that it was a pleasure to be a part of organization for me. First of all, although I had a lot of experience from my previous jobs I learned a lot while organizing the summit. Also, it was very interesting for me that all the doors became opened and all the lights became green for us during the summit preparations. The most worrying issues were solved easily when the time came. I apprise it that "If you have noble objectives, all the lights green"
When we talk about the success of the summit - there were more than 360 participants from 56 countries except the people attended from the embassies accompanying the guest who were not less than 100. Also many embassies applied for final documents after the summit which makes the effects of the final documents wider. Also, the 12 ministers responsible for family issues participated which I want to be proud of it if it is a record for summits. But the main things which make me proud is that I did not witness any participant left the summit unhappily because of an organizational matter. Also, the participants were so elegant that any person would be happy to be a part of such group.
Another success of the WFO+5 was to bring new participants from central Asian and Eurasian Countries in to WFO family. We had new and effective participants from Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and many other Central Asian countries also from Balkan countries.
Finally, the relation between WFO and State Ministry responsible for Family issues and also the Turkish Directorate for Family issues under Prime Ministry was exemplary and I think this was first contact of Turkish government with WFO but it will not be the last. Attendance of the Prime Minister H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his remarkable speech gave the participants hope about the results of the Summit.
I will be happy to be part of any future event of the WFO as organizer!
At WFO's 23rd Quadrennial General Assembly you were elected as an Executive Board Member as Advisor, in which ways specifically do you think you can contribute to WFO in this new position?
Advisor means to be advise. As a lawyer, I will do my best to service my law knowledge for WFO aims. Being introduced to the other board members, I have enough reasons to be hopeful for a very productive future of the Organization. I think our best chance is to be members of the team of Dr. Deisi Kuzstra who is an icon of productive and dedicated NGO leader.
Having lived in Azerbaijan for many years and with a great knowledge of the Eurasian countries, what can you tell us about them and the NGO activities there?
The NGO issue is new in the post soviet countries but ironically it is more effective than any area of the world because of some political developments. After Soviet Union, many western NGO's rushed in to the new countries to use chance for society building projects. Some did good jobs while some were scandalous. After a while governments also discovered the power of the NGO's. If the orange revolution has got its power from the effort of some NGO's which it is, the new orange Revolutions are probably unluckily because governments invest in pro government NGO's. I am not happy to mention these facts since being a main political actor is not relevant for noble constitution of the NGO mentality. I hope the NGO institution will find its own path after examining some faults and problems. |
