Expo Zaragoza 2008 :: What is Expo Volunteering?

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International Expo "Water and Sustainable Development"

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What is Expo Volunteering?

Participation and Volunteerism

What is it?

The Expo Zaragoza 2008 Participation and Volunteerism Department professionally manages the International Exposition’s citizen collaboration and involvement. The Expo Zaragoza 2008 Participation and Volunteerism Plan covers all aspects related to the Expo’s operation and is governed by current volunteerism laws, both at a national as well as regional level. Its acitivites are carried out within the framework of Spanish Law 6/96 on Volunteerism.

The Plan objectives are:

to respond to the social volunteer participation movement by providing quality training. This will result in better service for the International Exposition visitors.
to strengthen and promote the involvement, collaboration and participation of entities and groups in Zaragoza, Aragon and Spain.
to have 50,000 registered with the Expo Zaragoza 2008 who will collaborate directly or indirectly in the International Exposition tasks.
to have 15,000 trained volunteers to participate in the directly-related, specific activities of the Expo 2008
promote a respectful attitude amongst citizens as regards water and sustainable development.

How can I contribute?

This Plan coordinates the various ways one can collaborate:

Volunteer Programme. Anyone can participate provided they are 16 years of age or older at the time they register and commit to the organising company to participate in the proposed activities. They must sign the Volunteer Letter to do so.

Sympathisers Programme. This programme is for those who are not of the required minimum age or those who wish to show their support for the International Exposition without having to commit to participating in the activities.

Participation Programme. This programme is for all local entities, city councils, groups and associations who want to collaborate with the Expo through citizen involvement.

The only requirement is to have been born before 7 September 1992. If you were born after that date, you can participate as a Friend of the Expo 2008 Volunteers.

If you are over the minimum age and want to become an Expo 2008 Volunteer, the first thing to do is to register as a Friend. You can do this either by going to the Volunteer Service Office at calle Ponzano, 3, Zaragoza from 9am to 9pm from Monday to Friday (except bank holidays), by phone (902 30 2008), or visiting our website (www.expozaragoza2008.es).

Friends wishing to become Expo 2008 Volunteers have the right (pursuant to Law 6/96) to receive information and training so as to be able to perform their voluntary activities correctly. To do this, the first step is to take a training course to gain a thorough knowledge of, among other subjects, the Participation and Volunteer Strategic Plan of the state company Expoagua Zaragoza 2008 S.A.

Process:

WELCOME TO EXPO 2008 VOLUNTEERS! LONG LIVE THE EXPO!

Volunteer Letter

Rights

To receive information, training, and support with performing the activities assigned to them related to the Zaragoza 2008 International Exhibition.
To be guaranteed data protection in accordance with Organic Law 15/1999 on the Protection of Personal Data.
To be provided with the necessary resources to perform their activity.
To be treated without discrimination, respecting their freedom, dignity, intimacy and beliefs.
To participate actively in the organisation and to collaborate in the promotion of the contents of the Exhibition.
To be insured against the risk of accident and illness arising from the performance of the voluntary activity, with the characteristics and insured capital established in line with regulations.
To be reimbursed any expenses that may be incurred as a result of their activities, with prior consent from the Participation and Volunteer Department of the state company Expoagua Zaragoza 2008.
To be provided with official identification as a volunteer in Expoagua Zaragoza 2008.
To carry out their activity under proper health and safety conditions.
To obtain respect and recognition as a result of the social value of their contribution.

Duties

To meet the obligations undertaken with the state company Expoagua Zaragoza 2008, respecting and promoting its aims.
To accept and strengthen the values promoted by the company: solidarity, peace, the fight against racism and xenophobia, the promotion of equality, protection of the environment, sustainable development, non-discrimination, and, in summary, the promotion of good citizenship.
To reject any material recompense they may receive either from the beneficiary or from other people related to their actions.
To respect the rights of the beneficiaries of their voluntary activities.
To act diligently and supportively, representing the values and image of the company.
To participate in the training tasks planned by the organisation to maintain the quality of the services provided.
To follow the instructions provided for the correct performance of the activities entrusted to them.
To make appropriate use of the company's accreditation and emblems.
To respect and look after the material resources made available to them for the purposes of carrying out their activities.
To comply with the confidentiality protocol in respect of information received as a result of their voluntary activities.

On completion of General Training, and as a prior step to joining Expo 2008 Volunteers, you must sign a document (Volunteer Commitment) in which you undertake to:

Support the activities carried out by the organising company, it being understood that there is no employment, commercial or civil servant relationship between the two parties, nor is there any financial remuneration of any type.
Work the schedules established in the protocol as indicated below. You must inform the Participation and Volunteer Department of any changes in advance.
Attend the specific training courses organised by Expoagua that are required for you to carry out your functions.
Respect the range of rights and duties established in the letter laying down volunteers' Rights and Duties.

The agreement shall terminate on the following grounds:

Non-compliance with the commitments acquired in the Rights and Duties Letter.
If the volunteer wants to leave, this must be expressly notified in writing, a leaving document then being signed.

The Expo Zaragoza 2008 Volunteer Commitment is governed by state Law 6/1996 of 15 January on Volunteers (Official State Bulletin (BOE) No 15 of 17 January) and the Aragon Law 9/1992 of 7 October on Social Volunteer Work in the Aragon Region (Official Aragon Bulletin (BOA) No 121 of 19 October).

Voluntarios

Before the start of the International Exhibition (14 June 2008), volunteers do not have to commit to a minimum time availability, but it is advisable to perform some voluntary work to gain practice and consolidate the knowledge received.

During the Expo period (from 14 June to 14 September 2008), the volunteers should commit themselves to a minimum period of 7 consecutive days, working 6 hour shifts. The general schedule allows you to choose a month and shift.
- Month: June, July, August, September
- Shift: morning (9am to 3pm), afternoon (3pm to 9pm), night (9pm to 3am)

You should indicate in advance your availability before and during Expo 2008 in the registration documents. You can modify your availability by writing with sufficient notice to the Volunteer Services Office. In addition, we will inform you of possible "special" actions that do not fit in with the planned general timetables.

Voluntarios Expo 2008
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All those people who are over 16 but not yet of legal age when they sign the Expo 2008 Volunteer Commitment must attach a document showing parental authorisation as laid down in state Law 6/1996 of 15 January on Volunteers, and the Aragon Law 9/1992 of 7 October on Social Volunteer Work in the Aragon Region.

The parental authorisation document is returned to the relevant person on finishing the Expo 2008 General Volunteer Training.

BIE

From the outset Zaragoza's candidature to be the site for the 2008 International Exhibition received great public support, with more than 20,000 people showing their support and registering to become Expo volunteers.

After receiving general training (face-to-face, on-line), bit by bit these persons join the Expo 2008 Volunteer team.
If you want to be a volunteer but are unable due to age or personal reasons, then become an Expo 2008 Friend. There are now more than 27,000 of us. We need you too!