UN Headquarters, New York : The Executive Coordinator of UNV, Ms. Flavia Pansieri, and Mr. Nikhil Seth, Director of the Division of Sustainable Development at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), are jointly launching today the Volunteer Action Counts campaign, to count people’s action around the world for sustainable development. Read

Bonn/London: A new partnership between the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and VSO, announced today, will maximize the potential of volunteering to help citizens drive development forward themselves. The UNV-VSO partnership aims to increase the positive impact that volunteering can have on empowering marginalized communities. Read

In an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, from enhancing peace to boosting economic development, the United Nations proclaimed an International Year of Youth starting on 12 August 2010. Read

Bratislava, Slovakia: This research study on the state of volunteerism in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) looks at the contribution of volunteerism to peace and development, addressing the key questions of how volunteerism can help achieve the MDGs in the region, what are some of the key challenges it encounters and how its impact can be enhanced. This publication is the first of its kind for the region, and provides new and powerful information on a unique history of volunteerism in this part of the world. You can download the full version or a summary of the report below. Read

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has a long history of supporting relief operations in the aftermath of disasters, from Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998, to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, the Honduras storm in 2007 and the 2008 cyclones in Myanmar and Haiti.

Scores of UNV volunteers have helped coordinate relief efforts, mobilize resources and rehabilitate devastated populations. Their rapid deployment, professional skills and prior experience in disaster response brings hope to overwhelmed communities. Read