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

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