Show Racism the Red Card was one of many organisations with a stall at the first Volunteering Ireland Migrant Fayre at the Cultivate Centre in Dublin city centre as part of National Volunteering Week. One interesting document for distribution is the Volunteering Ireland document Diversify.The booklet profiles countries where many of the foreign nationals living in Ireland are from and explores the meaning of volunteering in different countries and serves to provide practical information and strategies to overcome possible barriers to volunteer involvement.In Afghanistan for example there is no culture of volunteers according to Nasrudin Saljuqi (Director of Afghan Community of Ireland). The extreme conflict of the last 25 years has meant the freedom of opportunity and structures to facilitate positive participation in the wider community are not in place. Most activity takes place in the extended family. Nasruddin believes Afghans in Ireland would be willing to volunteer and that the availability of information and training would reduce the barriers to volunteering for Afghans in Ireland.Studies in Poland indicate that there are 3 million active volunteers in Poland. Profiles suggest that many people volunteer in the absence of being able to obtain work. Research shows that there is a huge willingness, on the part of Polish graduates not working in their desired profession, to volunteer in Ireland. This could open the pathway for them to their desired profession here.Volunteering in China is very different to the west. There is an expectation that all students will give their services for the good of the community and not to do so would be frowned upon. Young people see volunteering as their duty.South Africa has traditionally high levels of political activity especially in the trade unions, while Romania even has a National Volunteering Law which allows for a written contract between organisation and volunteer.Show Racism the Red Card is recruiting volunteers to attend meetings, organise activity, design newsletters and raise funds to support our programme of activity. We will advertise for volunteers on www.volunteeringireland.ie
