Volunteering needs to be made more attractive to the public if it is going to tackle global issues like sustainability, participants of the United Nations conference have today been told. Visit site

In the lead-up to next week's UN DPI NGO Conference Sustainable Societies Responsive Citizens in Bonn, the first official press conference was held at UN Headquarters in New York. Donna Keher, chief of UNV Partnerships and Communications Division, stressed the importance of the role played by people as volunteers to achieve sustainable development. Visit site

Next week's annual joint conference of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will focus on sustainable development, volunteerism and the power of individuals to effect change and transform communities. A record 2,000 representatives from 100 countries and territories are expected to attend the three-day 64th annual conference of the UN and NGOs, organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), in partnership with the DPI/NGO Executive Committee, Germany and United Nations Volunteers. Visit site

United Nations Volunteers organized an event to celebrate International Youth Day with many young people who have taken part in diverse initiatives to bring about change in Yemeni society. Youth have played and increasingly important role this year after the Arab Spring revolutions and pro-change demonstrations that began in February. The event, which was attended by more than 200 youth, aimed to recognize their contributions, but also provide a space to exchange ideas and discuss challenges. Visit site

The need for the international community, governments and the private sector to work more closely with youth, to build on their entrepreneurship and social commitment, including their active involvement in volunteerism and social causes around the world, was the focus of an event on Corporate Engagement and Youth Philanthropy as Pathways to Development, which wrapped up the UN High Level Meeting on Youth held in New York in July. Visit site

Olympio Attiopoe (Ghana), a UNV tax collection specialist, is among 150 UN Volunteers deployed to South Sudan in a UNDP-managed capacity building programme and has helped Western Equatorial State to increase tax revenues from zero to 850,000USD since February. Visit site

Bonn, Germany, is the Host City for the 64th Annual UNDPI/NGO Conference,  celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers.  The theme of “Sustainable Societies; Responsive Citizens” allows the host country, Germany, and NGOs worldwide to showcase the impact volunteers make on sustainable livelihoods. Visit site

Today marks the occasion of the United Nations Public Service Day, intended to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community and a chance to highlight the contribution of public service to international development. Visit site

Volunteers play an important role in providing climate information. Their observations are critical to track local climate variations and impacts and to monitor changes in climate over time. Volunteers also play an important role in sensitizing the general public about weather and climate issues, serving as informal climate "ambassadors".

This year the United Nations celebrates the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, paying tribute to the volunteers around the world who take an active part in improving the welfare of their communities. Visit site

The launching of Australian Volunteers allows the public to access volunteer information through a web portal, allows the Australian Government to further collaborate with volunteer service providers who share the objective of helping developing countries to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development, and creates a united sense of Australians working together towards a common goal.

The Australian Government will also be providing funding to the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme to expand the UNV Online Volunteering service.

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