KINGSTON, Jamaica — Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, president of the Council of Volunteer Social Services (CVSS), has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to continue their critical work in advancing global development and social justice.

He emphasised that the collective impact of their efforts is essential for driving meaningful change.

“The private and public sectors recognise our strengths and rely on us to be innovative in our actions to achieve a more stable and efficient democracy. We must seize the opportunity presented by our relatively peaceful political environment, which allows us to develop advocacy programmes without the influence or interference of the government or private sector,” Hendrickson stated.

He made the remarks during the annual general meeting of CVSS, held recently in a hybrid format at the organisation’s Camp Road office in Kingston.

Hendrickson, whose presentation was read by Kim Mair, the chair of CVSS, reiterated CVSS’s ongoing commitment to unlocking potential within CSOs as a fundamental strategy for fostering growth and development across the sector. He underscored the importance of understanding the people and organisations involved, noting CVSS’s deliberate approach in knowing “who we serve, who serves us, and the value that each person or organisation brings to the overall plan”.

He said a key component of this strategy is recognising and amplifying individual voices. Hendrickson highlighted that while the strength of a collective voice is powerful, CVSS is dedicated to creating an environment where each person’s voice can be heard and amplified.

“We do not give people a voice,” he explained, “but aid them in using their own. This approach is central to the organisation’s broader mission of advocacy, particularly in ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are not silenced by oppression.”

Hendrickson also stressed the crucial role CSOs play as advocates for social justice, urging them to acquire essential skills through CVSS’s training programmes. These programmes, covering areas such as monitoring and evaluation, communications, grant proposal writing, financial management, and data management, are designed to equip CSOs with the tools needed to act as powerful advocates and mediators in community development.

Meanwhile, Mair announced the organisation’s plans to develop a robust national volunteer programme aimed at fostering a vibrant volunteer ecosystem in Jamaica.

“Looking ahead to 2024, we will continue to offer essential workshops, focus on youth volunteerism through the National Volunteer Conference, and champion our mission to strengthen CSOs. Our commitment to supporting and developing the volunteer sector remains unwavering,” Mair stated.

Reflecting on the past year, Mair noted that 2023 has been a year of significant progress for CVSS.

“We delivered impactful workshops and seminars, strengthening civil society through capacity-building initiatives. Over 250 participants benefitted from sessions on advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, and communications. Our network development efforts have enhanced stakeholder collaboration, ensuring a stronger collective mission,” she said.