Guyana will join several other countries in endorsing the role volunteerism can play in reducing world poverty by half by 2015 in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Clement Rohee, said.

International Volunteers' Day will be observed tomorrow.

At a press briefing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs boardroom to announce the programme of activities, Rohee said that several activities will be held to sensitise the public about the work of volunteers in Guyana.

At present there are 110 international volunteers working in Guyana with the majority concentrated in the productive and infrastructural sectors - education, health, agriculture, natural resources, water and social and community development. Rohee said that for several years the Guyana government has welcomed international volunteers, who have given their skills, expertise, time and creativity towards improving the well-being of Guyanese. He expressed government's appreciation to the volunteers.

The activities, to be observed under the theme `Volunteerism and the Millennium Development Goals', will include a televised discussion on the Guyana Television Broadcasting Company (GTV) involving representatives of the Peace Corps, British Voluntary Services Overseas (VSOs), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) and Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) with an intervention by Rohee.

Other activities will include a parade in the city on Saturday and a mobile clinic to provide medical assistance.