Damascus, SANA_ Mrs. Asma al-Assad on Saturday joined nearly two thousand volunteer youth of the National Union of Syrian Students in celebrating the International Volunteer Day, honoring 10 prominent volunteers for their distinguished and frequent participation in volunteer activities and their role in spreading the culture of volunteering.
Spreading culture of volunteering helps prepare man to engage in society and practical life
Mrs. Asma al-Assad said: "Volunteering, in essence and basis, is an excellent moral act aiming at good and construction, and the engagement of man in volunteer works is an expression of a virtue and benevolence instead of selfishness and egotism. That tendency of volunteering is the essence of life and source of human energy that creates the sought-for progress and development."
She added: "Volunteering is a school that prepares the individual to engage in the practical life awaiting him/her , and through it man learns not to diagnose problems and imbalances in the society, but rather engages himself in handling them, thus the theoretical approach turns into a positive act."
Mrs. Asma al-Assad stressed the necessity of spreading the culture of volunteering in the society since it shows citizens' high self-respect and the advancement of the nation.
Following up volunteer activities by President Bashar al-Assad and His Wife helped promote volunteering culture in society .
For his part, Chairman of National Union of Syrian Students Ammar Saati said that the continuous follow up to the volunteering activities by President Bashar al-Assad and His Wife contributed to enhancing the culture of volunteering in the society and shed light on the important role of the youth in building the homeland.
President Bashar al-Assad and His Wife followed up the volunteering activities and events, including campaigns of rehabilitating Amreet ruins, Arwad Island and al-Qaboun Park, and their recent visit to Maaloula Youth Camp during which the volunteers helped rehabilitate several schools, road signs and public utilities.
Several Syrian and Arab artistic teams performed shows during the celebration and honoring ceremony.
Volunteers honored: Honoring is an appreciation of the efforts made, a greater incentive to continue volunteering
A number of those honored expressed in their statements to SANA the importance of volunteer work in building the society and developing it to advanced stages.
They added that volunteer work is a moral and human work that must be spread in the society to unleash youth's energy and enhance partnership spirit, indicating that their honoring by Mrs. Asma al-Assad constitutes a strong momentum to continue working in this regard.
Yazen Rihawi, a 19-year-old volunteer, said that volunteer work through the Union was an important stage in my life.
Dr. Reem Mohammad, a 27-year-old student of higher education at Aleppo University Obstetrics Hospital, said that the idea of camping was a successful implementation of the volunteer work, given that the areas chosen by the Union for volunteer work was in need to medical services.
Another volunteer, the 23-year-old Ridan Monzer, said that "honoring the volunteers today is a momentum for all colleagues and volunteers in the Union and the other organizations…as well as citizens to take the initiative and involve in the volunteering work."
The United Nations approved December 5 as an annual day for volunteering in honor of this human activity and the role of volunteers in their societies overall development. It also aims at encouraging governments and media to take part in such activities.
SANA
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