VOLUNTEERING INFRASTRUCTURE

and for the creation of volunteering programmes in accordance to the needs of the communityin which they live.The vision of the „Volontiram!“ Network is a humane and equal democratic society which activelyincludes citizens in society processes. „Volontiram!“ is an informal network of local voluntaryservices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which contributes to the development of social capacitiesthrough activities of promotion and development of volunteering, as a condition for theimprovement of the quality of life and for the development of the society altogether.Strategic objectives of the “Volontiram!” Network:1. Established and applied legal framework for volunteering in Bosnia and Herzegovina;2. Volunteering recognised and accepted as a positive social value;3. Established unitary system of volunteering management in Bosnia and Herzegovina;4. Sustainable local voluntary services in Bosnia and Herzegovina;5. “Volontiram!” Network recognised as the centre for information, exchange of experiences anddevelopment of innovative methodologies in the area of volunteering on national and internationallevel.During 2011 the “Volontiram!” Network has been actively focused on the development of itsown internal capacities and the reinforcement of its role regarding development and promotionof volunteering in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the consolidation of cooperation withall relevant participants in our society.5. Other stakeholdersBeside the local voluntary sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are other stakeholdersinfluencing the promotion and development of volunteering. A few of these are governmentalstakeholders that support volunteering, like for instance:The University educationlaw defines it is possibleto obtain ECTS creditsthrough being involved involunteering activities.In the Republic of Srpska entity, the Law on University education givesthe possibility to obtain European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) creditsthrough volunteering. By initiative and support of OKC, one of the twopublic universities in this entity has defined of adequate model for studentsto obtaining ECTS credits through volunteering; this model was finished in2011 and put it in practice in the school year 2011-2012.Furthermore, in the period 2012-2013, the Youth Communication Centrewill provide support for the establishment of this possibility in the otherpublic university (Istocno Sarajevo) and in private universities across Republic Srpska.In the same entity, the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sport delivers the annual awards for anoutstanding volunteer and one volunteering organiser on 5 December, International VolunteerDay. The same Ministry provides financial support, every year, in the form of small grants forvoluntary activities planned and implemented by secondary school students’ councils.Regarding the profit sector, there are not many examples of their support towards volunteering.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is still something new in Bosnia and Herzegovina and notso much used at this point. Some of the international corporations that operate in Bosnia and58 Volunteering infrastructure in Europe 4 Bosnia-Herzegovina