About AVSM

The conference is hosted by the Association of Volunteer Social Service Macao (AVSM), which was founded in 1986 and just celebrated its 27th anniversary.

Back in 1986, Secretariat for Social Welfare (now: Social Welfare Bureau) has conducted a volunteer leadership program. This 6-month program, aiming at propelling the development of volunteering, has trained 24 volunteers from 14 different social service associations in Macao to encourage them to promote the development of voluntary work. Through this opportunity, the volunteers not only learned a lot of useful knowledge and skills but also discussed and exchanged their experiences in various workshops, and found that a bridging organization was needed to enhance communication between service agencies and volunteers, deepen understanding of community work, and promote the development of volunteerism. After months of deliberation AVSM was formed to fill that role. The Association of Volunteer Social Service Macao (AVSM) was officially established on 18 July, 1986, and registered in Macau on 14 August, 1987.

In order to let general public know more about volunteer work and propel the development of volunteering, AVSM hold courses of various kinds. Those courses include introduction of volunteering, volunteering leadership, communication skills, enhancement, team spirit, MC eloquence, event design, volunteer management, and instructor training, etc. Besides, AVSM has organized a number of events so as to boost cooperation among volunteers of different organizations and different regions. Those events include International Volunteer Day, IAVE Asia Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference, and Exchange Camp for volunteers in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau, and Exhibition on volunteering, Best Volunteer Election, and Exchange Program for Volunteers in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Moreover, started from October 1992, AVSM has decided to publish its bimonthly magazine “Voice of the Bee” for promotion purpose.

Thanks to the effort of members and volunteers for over the last two decades, AVSM has been acknowledged by governmental officials and people from all walks of life. In the future, AVSM will continue to strive for improving the service of volunteer and make contribution to the community, through different event organization and cooperation with other service providers, and to encourage more people to join the volunteer service and devote improvement in social service.