The year 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) in 2001. There's opportunities throughout 2011 to showcase the diversity, breadth and depth of volunteering worldwide, raise the profile of volunteering and mobilize many more volunteers. Read

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has a long history of supporting relief operations in the aftermath of disasters, from Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998, to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, the Honduras storm in 2007 and the 2008 cyclones in Myanmar and Haiti.

Scores of UNV volunteers have helped coordinate relief efforts, mobilize resources and rehabilitate devastated populations. Their rapid deployment, professional skills and prior experience in disaster response brings hope to overwhelmed communities. Read