When it was launched nine months ago, its proponents hoped to develop a credible registry that would match people willing to do volunteer service and agencies and organisations wanting to use their skills. At least one side of the project seem to be going well.

Since last September about 800 people have registered with the National Registry of Volunteers. The problem organisers say is the risk of losing some of the volunteers. Many are becoming discouraged at their treatment by agencies unprepared to handle the intake of free labor.

“Some of the volunteers who go out, say the organisations are not ready to use the skills they bring them,” says Beverly Lewis-Sutherland, NRV’s development manager. “We have had several with that experience.”

The registry is a project of the Council of Voluntary Social Services and the School for Graduate Studies and Research, UWI, Mona, and is funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica.

Among its aim is to:

. expand Jamaicas corp of volunteers;

. developing a culture of volunteerism among young Jamaicans; and

. tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge of retirees living in Jamaica.

An NRV brochure states its overall objective as “to multiply human and financial resources as it strengthens and connects individuals and organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Jamaican citizens”.

But while many organisations agree with its objectives, many find it difficult to integrate skilled people, with whom they are not familiar, into their systems.

In some cases, organisers of the register say, volunteers will go to an organisation and sit there for days doing nothing. Part of the problem is that some organisations are afraid to assign what they believe to be menial tasks, to highly skilled retirees.

“It will pose a problem,” says Lewis-Sutherland. “They need to feel they are doing something.”

This is one of the many challenges, NRV is now facing, she says.

Another, is how to assist organisations to maximise the service of the volunteers.

“We need to provide training in the area of human services,” according to Lewis-Sutherland. “Also, we need to go into the organisation and show them how to use the volunteers effectively.”

This is not likely to happen soon. The NRV’s portfolio does not now include public education and training.

And with just two full time staff, and half a dozen volunteers, the registry is overwhelmed with its massive recruiting and data compilation responsibilities.

In fact, says Lewis-Sutherland, there are hundreds of registered persons still waiting to be placed. Many of these people call regularly expressing their ‘anxiety’ to be placed with organisations willing to utilise their skills.

“Right now the registry is not yet mandated to do the networking, even though we are doing it on our own,” Lewis-Sutherland says.

Despite the challenges, Lewis is ‘encouraged’ by the numbers.

“The (volunteer) spirit is very high,” she says.

For instance, one day last week in Hanover, 26 persons registered, 15 of whom were retired professionals.

In general, most volunteers are women and persons between ages 14 and 25.

Yesterday, for instance, 280 volunteers were going through an orientation and training programme to be able to assist at the July Swimming Championships and Caribbean Special Olympics at the National Arena. Hundreds more have been placed in temporary projects, children’s homes and schools, which form the majority of the 100 organisations registered with NRV.

Last month NRV launched its website, www.nrv.org.jm, with the help of the telecommunications company, Cable and Wireless, which contributed $750,000 to the project. C&W hosts the website.

With its website, persons wanting to volunteer now have the option of enrolling via the Internet. The site is conceived as both a local and international platform for the exchange of information on volunteerism.

“It will appeal to individuals, civil society groups and corporate organisations looking for projects, facts, information and resources on volunteerism in Jamaica,” Lewis-Sutherland says.

The NRV has also teamed up with the Postal Corporation of Jamaica to allow persons anywhere in the island to register at any of the island’s post offices.