Feb. 18 marks the 10th anniversary of the Volunteer Law in Brazil. Recently Eva Christina Rux, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme Officer, spoke to Centre of Volunteer Action of Curitiba (CAV) about how the UNV programme has grown in Brazil during these 10 years, and what is needed to ensure its future development.  Although volunteerism is not a new phenomenon in Brazil, the presence of the Volunteer Law has legitimised the relationship between volunteers and social entities. UNV has formed a partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics to increase the visibility of Brazilian volunteer activities. Visit site

Published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the report "Taking volunteers seriously", provides a picture of development in volunteering since 1999. 

UNV and IFRC has long been working together to promote volunteerism for development. The report says that the partnership between the International Federation and UNV has greatly contributed to the revalidation of volunteering and to concerted efforts to foster an environment that enables and optimizes the full potential of volunteering. Read

In his message for International Volunteer Day 2007, UNV Executive Coordinator Ad de Raad recognized the power of volunteerism in building social capital and cohesion, and its contribution to development. He also took this opportunity to express his appreciation to the millions of volunteers, saying "Regardless at what level they (volunteers) act, internationally, nationally or locally, all belong to an extraordinary group of global citizens who make an essential difference in building a better world for all." Read

Since the beginning of 2007, UNV has been working with the NGO Zemlja djece (Children's Earth) to improve the psycho-social condition of street children and youth, through a spectrum of various educational, counseling and recreational activities offered at the TELEX Teenage Centre. For Jasminka Cikaric and Hava Suljic, the Centre in Tuzla was their first real school.  The two former street children had never had formal education before coming here. (Read attached stories below) Read

The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in China has translated the guide "Climate Crisis Solutions" into Chinese as a practical tool to help address environmental challenges in China. The translation is part of UNV's contribution to the Live Earth event, a series of concerts worldwide on 7 July to raise awareness about the climate crisis and mobilise millions of people. Read