Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Policy makers and senior officials this week praised a UNV programme designed to foster regional integration, social cohesion and poverty reduction in the Balkans. Read

Bonn, Germany: Peace and development are inexorably linked and volunteerism can significantly contribute to both, said Donna Keher, Chief of the UNV Partnerships and Communications Group, at the 2008 Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) today. Read

Bonn, Germany: Volunteers are making a significant impact on environmental programmes through the internet. Since 2000, online volunteers engaged via the UNV Online Volunteering service have undertaken 1,350 environmental assignments. On World Environment Day, 5 June, more than 100 online volunteers are involved in current initiatives. Read

New York, USA: The UN Peace Building Fund has granted US$ 1 million to the Emergency Volunteer Scheme (EVS), which will promote conflict resolution in Kenya. The financial support allocated in late May gives a substantial boost to a pilot initiative underway in deprived areas of the Rift Valley. Read

Yokahama, Japan: UNV is showcasing the importance of volunteerism in Africa at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) conference. UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri and UNV Chief of the Africa Region Michele Falavigna are attending in order to contribute to the conference and its output documents (such as the Yokahama Declaration and Plan of Action), and to discuss UNV's activities with the Japanese and African media. The conference runs from 28-30 May in Yokohama, Japan. Read

Bonn, Germany: Volunteerism is critical in responding to environmental and sustainable development challenges such as the preservation of biological diversity. Maintaining the diversity of nature is going to require the dedication of us all. "That means recognizing people who are already acting," said UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. Read

Damascus, Syria: Volunteers have planted a forest near Damascus to increase biodiversity in their area. Staff from UNV, other UN agencies and many local volunteers were involved in the planting of 3,500 cedar, cypress, stone pine and wild pear trees in a nine-hectare plot. Read

Sichuan Province, China: UNV volunteers are working in Sichuan province in China to support medical relief for people displaced by the recent earthquake. One of them is writing an online diary of his experiences (last updated 1 June), and was joined in May by two others. Read

Peshawar, Pakistan: With the help of a UNV volunteer, Afghan refugees in Pakistan are developing sustainable self-governance methods - turning their camp into a community they run and pay for themselves. Read

Kathmandu, Nepal: The contributions of UNV volunteers to elections in Nepal were formally recognized this week in a ceremony held in Kathmandu. Deputy Executive Coordinator Joyce Yu visited to meet the UNV volunteers involved, listen to their experiences and acknowledge their achievements. Read