Agency for Volunteer Service

Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS) founded in 1970, is a non profit organization with charity status. With the vision to build a civil society and caring community, AVS is dedicated to playing a proactive and pivotal role in the promotion and development of sustainable volunteerism, and to develop partnership with all sectors of the community to provide value added and quality volunteer service.

AVS mobilizes and organizes volunteer service. It offers referral service for those who wish to volunteer and supports organizations requiring the service of volunteers. AVS partners with different sectors and organizations to develop innovative and impactful volunteer programmes. To capitalize the expertise and skills of volunteers, the Volunteer Talent Bank has established specialized service teams to provide a variety of high quality volunteer services to NGOs and the disadvantaged.

To strengthen volunteers’ competence, and to enhance the quality and effectiveness of volunteer service, AVS provides diversified training and professional consultancy for volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations. It also produces publications and audio-visual aids on volunteer service management.

AVS has drawn up the Hong Kong Volunteer Charter as a reference guide to volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations for promoting quality volunteer practice. With the Charter being the basis, the Hong Kong Institute of Volunteers was established to advance volunteerism and promote excellence in volunteering.

AVS fosters volunteerism through a range of promotion, public education and volunteer recognition programmes. The Hong Kong Volunteer Award, Heroic Volunteer Award, Professional Volunteer Service Accreditation Programme, Leadership Bauhinia Volunteer Award and the International Volunteer Day celebrations on the 5th December each year are notable ones to promote volunteer values and to raise public recognition on the volunteer contributions.

Internationally, AVS is a cooperating organization of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) to promote the UNV Programme and to encourage the participation of professionals and youth in volunteering worldwide. AVS is also the International Association for Volunteer Effort Representative for Hong Kong, sending delegates to attend international and regional volunteer conferences for exchange and networking with volunteer organizations abroad.
To know more about AVS, please visit www.avs.org.hk.