"I was a volunteer teacher both in the Caribbean and Tanzania. Throughout my life as a volunteer and my career working with volunteers, I have never met a volunteer who didn't say that they got more than they gave. It has certainly been my experience."

The year 2001 was business unusual and extraordinary for the UNV programme. It was our 30th anniversary as an organization and our fifth consecutive record year - 5,090 UN Volunteers from 160 countries taking up 5,432 assignments in 140 developing nations and countries in economic transition. UNV also built up its largest single presence ever, in East Timor. At the time of the Constituent Assembly polls on 31 August, over 900 UN Volunteers from 96 countries were supporting the East Timor Public Administration, including electoral processes, and carrying out a range of activities nationwide as part of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The UN Volunteers who have worked in East Timor since 1999 are a reflection of the many global citizens who have engaged themselves through the UNV programme in supporting United Nations peace and development activities. And complementing these on-site activities over the year, more than 6,000 people from over 150 countries volunteered their services on-line under the UNV-managed service hosted on the Netaid.org web site.

Also unusual and extraordinary was the International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001). As focal point for the Year, a task entrusted to us by the UN General Assembly, we worked with our IYV partners to put volunteerism on the map with National Governments and the United Nations alike. The challenge was to rally volunteers and the public at large to broaden the understanding of volunteering as a powerful force in social and economic development. UNDP, with its network of country offices, played a crucial role in helping us make this a truly global year that was meaningful within the cultural context of each country.

IYV was seen, felt and heard around the world through thousands of unique celebrations and activities. Volunteers in 125 countries formed National IYV Committees to promote the Year and volunteering in all its diversity. Organizations and individuals connected at many levels to build volunteer networks. In fact, the Year virtually exploded with activity. From flags, coins, postage stamps and songs to an IYV message on a scientific rocket blasting into outer space: it's all been done!

IYV 2001 will have a lasting impact on how UNV works to encourage volunteerism worldwide. Equally important, it has also given us an extended role within the United Nations to promote the volunteer dimension in the entire range of UN peace and development issues. Because of IYV 2001, UNV now has a broader constituency outside the UN, which we stand ready to assist by using our position within the United Nations to advocate for increased volunteer action and a strengthened global volunteer movement.

This Annual Report highlights a few of the many activities carried out by UN Volunteers and IYV partners during 2001. You will read about efforts to stem HIV/AIDS in Botswana, emergency relief after earthquakes in El Salvador, volunteer networking initiatives in Kyrgyzstan and the promotion of environmental issues in Guyana. Binding all of these efforts is the volunteer contribution of fostering trust among peoples, promoting solidarity and building social cohesion.

Now we must galvanize this powerful volunteer force and harness IYV's momentum in support of the international campaign to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Read on, tune in - and stay involved.

Sharon Capeling-Alakija