Founded in 1970, AVS is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to playing a proactive and pivotal role in the promotion and development of sustainable volunteerism for the building of a civil society and caring community.  It develops partnership with all sectors of the community to provide value added and quality volunteer service.

AVS mobilizes volunteer service. It offers referral service for those who wish to volunteer and supports organizations requiring the service of volunteers.  AVS partners with organizations from different sectors to develop needed and impactful volunteer programmes.  To capitalize the talents and skills of volunteers, the Volunteer Talent Bank has established specialized service teams to provide a variety of high quality volunteer services to non-profit organizations and the disadvantaged.

To foster volunteerism and enhance the quality and effectiveness of volunteer service, AVS provides diversified trainings and professional consultancy for volunteers, volunteer leaders and managers.  It also produces publications and reference materials for good practices of volunteer service management.

AVS drew up the Hong Kong Volunteer Charter and the Practice Reference Guide as reference guides to volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations for promoting quality volunteer practice.  

AVS fosters volunteerism through a range of promotion, public education and volunteer recognition programmes.  The Hong Kong Volunteer Award, Heroic Volunteer Award, Professional Volunteer Service Accreditation Programme, Leadership Bauhinia Volunteer Award and the International Volunteer Day celebrations are notable ones to promote volunteerism and to raise public recognition on volunteer contributions.

Internationally, AVS is a cooperating organization of the United Nations Volunteers ("UNV").  AVS launched the UNV-Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme to allow local university undergraduates to participate in a 6-month assignment under the United Nations field units or agencies overseas.  AVS is also a member of the International Association for Volunteer Effort and the Global Network of Volunteering Leadership, sending delegates to attend international and regional conferences for exchange and development.

To know more about AVS, please visit www.avs.org.hk .