“I studied computer science in the US and eventually worked with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East where I helped develop the agency’s Disability policy.

I have always been passionate about volunteering. As soon as I arrived in Darfur, I realized that there was so much to do for this community. I needed to start advocating for the cause I have worked on my whole life: disabled persons.” Read

One of the major problems hindering the development of Kosovo is corruption. Serving as a UNV Programme Analyst for Democratic Governance with UNDP, I helped organize the Anti-Corruption Journalism Award, in support of investigative journalism for transparency. Read

During the past three years, as a UNV Interpreter under the UNHCR in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the US Citizen and Immigration Services interviews, Ngun Si (Myanmar/ROK) learned more about the plight and struggles of refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia, and gained a new understanding of how UNHCR, the United States and other countries provide protection and resettlement for refugees. Read

Joining the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as a UNV Judicial Systems Monitor in 2007 has allowed me to help further development not only for the people I serve in Lofa and Montserrado Counties, but also for myself. Read

The integration of Roma Ashkali Egyptian (RAE) is a challenging social issue for Kosovo. In Plementina, a small village in the Obliq municipality, a community of some 40 Kosovo RAE returnee families is facing very difficult living conditions since a fire broke out in their apartment building and made it inhabitable. Read

The Ecological Boomerang project is training volunteers on issues related to ecology, sustainability and environmental responsibility. This is only the first step towards the realization of a large project aiming to have a positive impact on the environment. Read

It was a great honour for me, as the national IYV+10 Coordinator in Uzbekistan, to participate in the celebration of the birth of the United Nations. We provided our visitors with information about UNV activities and initiatives, and I referred people to our Facebook page, which I was happy to find most of them were already following.

These posts not only include reports about our activities, but also contain links to various competitions, educational opportunities, contests, projects and programmes that people can get involved in. Read

"Overall, my visit to Baltistan was incredible. The students and citizens of this region are full of hope for their futures, but are in need of technical support and resources to help them achieve this vision of excellence," explains Kate Anderson Simons, who has been supporting GRACE Association Pakistan as an online volunteer since 2007.

An education consultant focusing on children affected by poverty, armed conflict, and lack of educational opportunities, she hopes that "through continued collaboration, the GRACE staff, partners, and volunteers can make this vision a reality." Read

As UN Volunteers with the Child Protection team of UNICEF's Country Office in Uganda, we focus on violence against children and justice for children.  However, we are not strictly confined to our respective areas. This gives us the chance to learn about and contribute to other UNICEF programmes. Read

As a new volunteer, I had great expectations and was full of ambition. I looked forward to meeting and working with new people at UNICEF, gaining new skills and using my experience to contribute to making a positive difference in the lives of women and children in Uganda. Read