JUST VOLUNTEERS (JV) = JOINT VENTURE (JV) of Concerned Citizen Action for Social Justice
Somewhere on this planet, someone has a solution to each of the world's problems.
It might be one of us. With your help, we can build a more hopeful world. - Marianne Larned
The JUST VOLUNTEER code is applicable to all iCONGOANS (Advisory Board members to Executive Board to Volunteers as listed in this section), irrespective of their titles, age and stature. At iCONGO we do not have a top down hierarchy and believe that to fulfill our duty we all need to humbly accept that is each of us is “JUST ANOTHER VOLUNTER”. All iCONGOANS, including student volunteers, have the right and responsibility to question anything and anyone and exercise her/ his voice. Along with all the rights comes the responsibility of being a proactive volunteer and putting in efforts as a vocational calling (and not just a 9-5 job) to promote social justice, by going beyond and answering our call of duty.
“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.” - Richard Bach
Our JV Purpose: Encouraging social justice through citizen action where we help all people invest time, efforts and involvement to BE THE CHANGE and MAKE A DIFFERENCE towards helping create a just, humane, responsible and egalitarian society.
Our JV Goal: To create THOUGHT LEADERSHIP for addressing apathy and igniting attitudinal change amongst citizens at large for reclaiming democracy and social justice for all, because we inherently believe that it is not charity but justice that is wanting in our world.
Though government has an important role to play in meeting the many challenges that remain before us, we are coming to understand that no organization, including government, will fully succeed without the active participation of each of us. Volunteers are vital to enabling this country to live up to the true promise of its heritage. - Bill Clinton
There is no better exercise for your heart, than reaching down and helping to lift someone up. Learn to lead in a nourishing manner. Learn to lead without being possessive. Learn to be helpful without taking the credit. Learn to lead without coercion- Bernard Meltzer
Whenever we think about the work that we’re doing, we should ask ourselves one simple question- Why are we here? Each person volunteering @ iCONGO could probably, at this point of time, be earning money for the time and efforts we are investing for the greater public good. Then what brought us here- an array of different individuals, coming together for a common cause and larger mission? Of course it was the knowledge that more important than money is the satisfaction of doing something for society. But that’s the easier answer. Whether you realize it or not, the roots go much deeper.
The world we live in today is based on competition. In the mad rush to get ahead, to earn more, to spend more, everything that was taught to be wrong is now applauded to be a virtue. Greed, selfishness and egotism- these were supposed to be sins. They are now practical skills for a practical world. And each has their excuse for going along with it, for stamping down ruthlessly on others, not as strong, or perhaps not as shrewd. It’s about each one for oneself, about individual gain, and let the community be damned. Competition is actually looked towards to promote innovation, efficiency and excellence. It is supposed to provide incentive for constant self-improvement. However, if the larger picture is not kept in mind, the true vision is lost. What that sense of competition ends up achieving is incessant bickering over non-issues, and a loss of ethics; because ethics have no part to play in the super-competitive world of dog eating dog. Like football star Ronaldo said: “Of course we play for ourselves and for our glory. But the difference is that it is not all that we do. We also play for our country.”
It is this very greed and selfishness that you have taken a stand against. By JUST VOLUNTEERING through iCONGO, what you are effectively against is being a part of a world that can close its ears to people crying out for help, because to hear will not afford any individual gain. You are against the rat race that demands the lives of other people so that you can sit in comfort. You refuse to conform to what the world tells you are the right ways, the only way- the path of chasing the money, the path of cut-throat competition instead of building consensus. It’s not about not conforming- it’s about conforming only when you find something worth conforming to.
If you have joined iCONGO, you have found that something worth conforming to- it’s the only reason why you would join. It is because you have a “grand passion & commitment” for justice, for fair play, for seeing the myriad WRONGS in the world for what they are- WRONGS, They are not merely small inconveniences that someone else is facing that you don’t have to think about because it is not happening to you. It is because you understand that blind, unfair competition, where people don’t start on a common playing field is not the answer- consensus is, and working together towards a common cause of collective prosperity is the key to achieving social justice for one and all.
Volunteering is good for the individual, family and collective mind, body, heart and the soul. - Founders of iCONGO
Personal Values that we are looking for-
What are the values that you should live by while working at this organization? They are not something superimposed on you- only what comes from within:
Take a lead from Jerry Maguire:
“A life is not worth living if you are sleepwalking through it… We cannot sleepwalk. We cannot just survive, anything goes. We can take control of our lives, we can quit sleepwalking, we can say - right now, these are our lives; it is time to start living it. It is time to not second guess, to move forward, to make mistakes if we have to, but to do it with a greater good in mind. Let us start a revolution… I am prepared to die for something. I am prepared to live for our cause. The cause is caring about each other.”
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE:
This way, volunteers and associates become responsible for being congruent with the core values and principles of the organization, and work becomes a form of creative self expression rather than a task done for purely monetary remuneration. Passion for the job gets reintroduced as the element of force fades away, and people work for the right reasons, with the right results: retaining their individuality through their work, while at the same time keeping in mind the larger picture and working towards a larger vision. The motto of every volunteer and associate is then: “Nation First, Cause Next and Self last”.
The expression of pride in being JUST ANOTHER VOLUNTEER is very important as when one volunteers, one does it simply for doing good and because he/she believe that he/she can make a positive contribution by giving their services holistically. Volunteers, unlike employees, do the work because they want to serve and make a difference and thus need to be much more committed, passionate and proactive about the work we do. Thus everyone at iCONGO needs to be proud to be a JUST ANOTHER VOLUNTEER and give oneself wholly and selflessly towards finding ways to be the change.
Our Expectations from all our JUST VOLUNTEERS:
All iCONGO volunteers are expected to:
Be flexible. iCONGO has at this stage a small Secretariat of no more than 5 people, full or part time, who work with us to promote the mission , and all volunteers must be willing to undertake administrative and outreach tasks as well as regular policy research and organisational duties. All volunteers are expected to chip in wherever they are needed. They must also be able to get along well with other team members
Be reliable. All iCONGO volunteers mostly work from home. For this reason it is vital that the successful applicant be reliable, have a strong work ethic and considerable motivation, allowing them to work efficiently in an independent manner. Some people do not work well without the stimulation of office colleagues or the discipline of a supervised work environment. If you are one of those people, volunteering with iCONGO isn’t for you.
PERSON SPECIFICATION for JUST VOLUNTEERS:
10 Commandments for JV
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.- Mother Theresa