The Public Service Commission today sponsored for the first time ten volunteers under the Volunteer Service Scheme.
Volunteers comprising of graduates and retirees have already begun work with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
The Fiji Volunteer Service was established under the National Employment Centre (NEC) Decree, 2009. Under the Decree, the Public Service Commission acts as the agency to manage the Fiji Volunteer Service. The main function of the Fiji Volunteer Service is to engage unemployed persons and retirees who wish to serve society in the spirit of volunteering in any local and regional undertakings including green growth initiatives or projects.
Public Service Commission permanent secretary Mr Parmesh Chand in highlighting the program for volunteering said that volunteering is considered one of the most productive forms of professional and personal development for individuals.
“It helps promote a strong sense of service and civic pride amongst our people. Out of the ten volunteers, five will be attached to Ministry of Education to assist in the collation of data for processing of teaching vacancies while the other five will be working at the Ministry of Health to implement community based health and rehabilitation services”, Mr Chand said.
Twenty-four year old Sefanaia Joji is attached at the Ministry of Education, said he is enjoying his attachment at MOE.
“I heard about the National Employment Centre through my brother in-law and I applied. I got selected and am now attached with MOE doing administrative work. MOE is paying $50 of my allowance while the other $50 is paid by PSC weekly,” Joji said.
He said after his attachment he plans to work permanently applying to various orgnaisations as he has gained considerable experience.
There are three categories of volunteers under the scheme:
- Unemployed graduate trainee volunteer (for unemployed but qualified graduates)
- Senior volunteer (recruitment of qualified and experienced retirees to serve locally)
- Senior volunteer (senior volunteers to serve in Pacific countries)
Under the Scheme, a volunteer is paid a weekly allowance of 50 per cent by FVS and other 50 per cent by receiving organization or agency with attachment up to 6 months.
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