Bonn, Germany: International volunteering is increasing, and the implications for the volunteers and beneficiaries are evolving. Benjamin Lough, a researcher on international volunteering at Washington University in Saint Louis, met with United Nations Volunteers programme staff to discuss international volunteering as part of his work for the State of the World Volunteerism Report. Read

Torit, Sudan: During their six month mission to Sudan, Isaac, Jan, Diederick and Catharina did not limit their activities to the county prison, they also worked with a women’s association, a community based organisation working to empower women. Read

Victoria, Seychelles: Earlier this year, the President of the Seychelles, James Michel, created the National Committee on Volunteering (NCV) to promote volunteerism, and advise the government on how volunteerism can be promoted in the island nation. Read

Bonn, Germany: Volunteers play a crucial role in coping with the aftermath of disasters, as they are often in the frontline to respond and mobilize communities to help each other. Volunteers increase the resilience of rural and urban communities to disasters through raising awareness of risk, better preparedness and identifying early warning mechanisms. Read

Bonn, Germany: Dr David Horton Smith, a consultant for UNV's the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) discussed research on volunteerism and the current trends with UNV staff last month. Read

Sevilla, Spain: Through Art for All, thousands of teachers, community leaders and youth guides will learn about the eight MDGs in Sevilla. According to one of the event organizers, Peter Claesson, a former UNV volunteer, an estimated one million visitors will be reached and sensitized on the MDGs. Read

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: UNV volunteers joined Haitian youth to commemorate the International Day of Peace. While vowing to be harbingers of peace, young people called on all stakeholders to help sow the seeds for peace and development in the country. Read

La Paz, Bolivia: The Chief of the Development Division of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, Ghulam Isaczai visited Bolivia last week to learn about the achievements and progress made by UNV and its partners towards human development. Read

Abyei, Sudan: “One of the biggest changes to which I had to adjust was the pace at work. I was used to 12 hour shifts, running up and down hospital corridors all day and night, and working with a large collaborative staff base. So as a coping strategy I was looking for an opportunity to volunteer outside of the UN clinic,” Sarah Wyatt says. Read

Kassala, Sudan: Nigerian UNV volunteer, Murdakai Titus, organized a successful community wide tree planting at the Shagarab Refugee Camps 1,2 and 3 near Kassala in eastern Sudan. Read