Istog/Istok, Kosovo: UN Volunteers at UNHCR and Aba-k, a local women’s NGO, organized a sale exhibition of handcrafts, embroidery, jewelry and traditional dishes. The activity was implemented through a UNV-led scheme promoting volunteerism, peace and development. Read

Prishtina, Taukhbahce Park, Kosovo: In Prishtina, and under motto “All Together”, an event took place to promote the importance of social inclusion through respect, acceptance and tolerance. It was organized by two UN Volunteers in partnership with the local NGO HandiKOS, an organization which supports people living with disabilities. 45 children, some with disabilities  participated in this event to learn more about volunteering, social inclusion and ecology. Read

Beijing, China: In the context of Rio+20, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has launched a public participation campaign entitled “Volunteering for the Future We Want” on UNV China’s Sina and Tecent Weibos. Read

Bonn, Germany: UNV is actively involved in the Greening the Blue initiative, which was launched in 2010 to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability throughout the UN system and to encourage staff members to take an active role in reducing the organization’s carbon emissions. Read

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A new agreement between the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Comisión Cascos Blancos (White Helmets Commission) of Argentina was signed today at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. The agreement will strengthen both organizations’ capacity to respond, through volunteerism, to disasters and emergencies rapidly and effectively. Read

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: On the first day of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, a Rio+20 delegation visited the favela area of Canta Galo, where 57 UN Volunteers are engaged in the renewal of their own community. "This is yet another example of people power driving real change," says UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri. "Volunteers, together with communities around the world, support social, economic and environmental transformation every day." Read

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: In the lead-up to Rio+20, UNV was actively involved with the Government of Brazil and UNDP in the training of 1,200 young volunteers for the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development taking place from 20 to 22 June in Rio de Janeiro. Read

Bonn, Germany: UNV launched the Volunteer Action Counts campaign on the 24th of April, and since then the campaign has been a great success, with more than 1,000 volunteering stories submitted and over 64 million volunteers acting for sustainable development counted so far on the campaign website. Read

Kosovo: "This initiative is a part of our work in UNDP Kosovo Governance Team to improve capacities for policy planning, policy implementation and administration at central and local levels for effective and gender-responsive governance. My role in this initiative was to develop the concept of the social media site, consult with civil society organisations, select a partner and coordinate with the partner for the implementation of the concept, as well to organise the launching event. "

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World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is marked on 17 May and is an opportunity to promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development. The official theme this year is Women and Girls in ICT.

Meet some of the UN Volunteers, UN Online Volunteers and former UN Volunteers using ICTs to help to empower communities. Visit site