Allen Jennings, UNV Deputy Chief of the Development Division, said the Vietnamese Government and people should be fully aware of voluntary activities’ importance in the country’s development. He was speaking at the 2nd National Volunteers Summit held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union  (HCMCYU) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in Hanoi to mark International Volunteer Day (IVD). Visit site

South Sudan's National Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in conjugation with the United Nations yesterday joined to celebrate the International volunteer day and launching of UNV's State of the World's volunteerism report. Visit site

Stressing that volunteerism contributes to the well-being of individuals, communities and society, a new United Nations report released Tuesday urges countries not to forget this largely untapped asset. The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report by UN Volunteers (UNV) presents  for the first time empirical evidence of the importance and  contribution of volunteerism on a global scale. Visit site

Volunteerism is an essential component of any strategy that recognizes that progress cannot be measured solely in terms of economic return, it’s also about ‘well-being’. Volunteering not only delivers peace and development results; it is uniquely able to impact on the inner lives of individuals, communities and societies, binding them with bonds of trust and reciprocity (UNV Executive Coordinator, 2011). Visit site

As part of the celebrations for International Volunteer Day, UNV will organize a series of events to showcase volunteers' work. One of these events, Light-up the World, will involve various online activities, including a photo competition where volunteers are asked to submit images from around the world depicting their views and experiences. The winner will be chosen through votes on UNV's Facebook page. Visit site

The Canadian launch of the State of the World's Volunteerism Report in Ottawa coincides with the report's launch at the UN General Assembly in New York and in 70 countries around the world, as well as with International Volunteer Day and the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers. Visit site

Every day, volunteers make a difference for the environment, for peace, for meeting the Millenium Development Goals, and much more. There are countless examples of volunteering having an incredible impact.  Visit site

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day in Trinidad and Tobago, the UNV Field Unit with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has joined forces with the Pride in Gonzales Project in Belmont to showcase the numerous volunteer efforts  in the community through the symbolic Planting of a Peace Pole. Visit site

The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development will be observed on December across the world including Pakistan to give volunteers a chance to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels. Visit site

"Volunteers have the power to change lives, build social cohesion, enhance civic participation, mitigate conflict and contribute to society's well-being," UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator Naheed Haque told UN Radio as United Nations headquarters in New York is set to recognize the work of millions of volunteers around the globe and launch the first-ever report on the state of world volunteerism, spotlighting the role they play in development. Visit site