On 7 September 2012, the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), together with the Association pour les Nations Unies and the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), organised a discussion about the UNV programme with its Executive Coordinator, Ms. Flavia Pansieri. Visit site

Young Football Volunteers project (YFV) held their first Training of Trainers. The training was organized in cooperation with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) and State Service on Youth and Sports. Sixteen teachers of physical education and youth football coaches from rural areas of AR Crimea, Kherson and Mykolayiv oblasts were trained on Youth Development through Football methodology (YDF) or “Fair Play”. The training launched the series of events planned in the framework of YFV project. Visit site

Sport is important, not just for physical fitness but for strengthening the bonds between people. In the refugee camps and surrounding areas sport has become an important way to build peace and give people confidence in their skills and worth as human beings. Visit site

On 20 July 2012, ChildLine Zimbabwe, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Zimbabwe brought together volunteers from various walks of life to participate in a clean-up of Harare Children's Home in commemoration of Mandela Day. It was great to see the huge turnout and the enthusiastic participation of young people. Visit site

According to Marie-Josée Jacobs, Luxembourg's Minister for Family and Integration and Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, once a young person becomes a volunteer, it changes their life and they remain engaged. Ms Jacobs was speaking at a press conference chaired jointly with UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri at which a new Memorandum of Understanding between Luxembourg and UNV was signed. Visit site

UN Development Programme Sub-Office in Crimea has launched the project “Yong Football Volunteers: Sport and Volunteering for MDG”, 2012 - 2015. The Project is implemented in partnership with the State Service for Youth and Sports (SSYS), Football Federation of Ukraine, UN Volunteers Programme, and UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace. The project team started its work in rural areas of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the oblast (province) of Kherson and Mykolayiv oblast. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to MDG achievement by leveraging sports as an enabler to promote social cohesion, strengthen civil society and improve youth physical and social health. Visit site

Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that more than one hundred commitments and actions have been already mobilized in support of the UN’s global sustainable energy initiative. Mr. Ban cited individual volunteers among those carrying out the hundreds of actions and commitments underway in support of the initiative, which is also supported by businesses, donors, entrepreneurs, organizations, and artists. Visit site

Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that more than one hundred commitments and actions have been already mobilized in support of the UN’s global sustainable energy initiative.  Mr. Ban cited individual volunteers among those carrying out the hundreds of actions and commitments underway in support of the initiative, which ias also supported by businesses, donors, entrepreneurs, organizations, and artists. Visit site

Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP, says that 20 years after the Rio Earth summit, sustainable development is still not mainstream policy because governments considered the short-term outcomes too politically risky. Visit site

People's voluntary involvement is essential in sustainable development, and the whole world should recognize the importance of volunteerism for development and peace, head of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Flavia Pansieri said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. Visit site