Turkey: “To meet the various challenges, we have to come up with new strategies both to attract women’s organizations and NGOs as well as for presenting the training to women.” Read

Indonesia: “I was very lucky because my UNV position allowed me to work at a very grassroots level. It was a completely life-changing and formative experience and formed the way I approached development work. I learned that everything has to be grounded in local culture, in local knowledge.” Read

Kampala, Uganda: “Work in the field is crucial to the peacebuilding process – it gives a chance for authentic understanding of the issues at hand.  But you can also contribute to the process even if you are working in front of a computer, behind a desk far away from the field. Everyone can do their part by leveraging on their respective personal strengths and knowledge.” Read

Online: “I would encourage everyone to volunteer.  It is important to let your passion guide your choice of a volunteering field.” Read

As part of our online feature on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is pleased to announce a Live Facebook Chat with former UN Volunteer Ewa Wojkowska, Co-Founder and COO of Kopernik. Visit site

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

World Health Day on 7 April provides an opportunity to focus on a single health challenge with global impact.  The theme of the Day this year is Ageing and health: Good health adds life to years.

Good health not only enables older men and women to live longer, but also extends their active involvement in all levels of society.  When able to participate fully, older people are resources for their families and communities throughout the world. Volunteers provide important support in enabling older men and women to participate fully in their communities. Visit site

“It is a known fact that retirees and older people are a vital resource for societies. We only need to find ways to tap into their life experience and talents... Online volunteering is one way of doing that.

Retirees have left behind their work place but not their professional and human talents. They want to remain engaged and to be useful in one way or another.” Read

“The invaluable experience and expertise of older people should be tapped into by companies, institutions, local and central governments, schools and universities, engaging them as consultants in diverse areas.” Read