World Health Day on 7 April provides an opportunity to focus on a single health challenge with global impact.  The theme of the Day this year is Ageing and health: Good health adds life to years.

Good health not only enables older men and women to live longer, but also extends their active involvement in all levels of society.  When able to participate fully, older people are resources for their families and communities throughout the world. Volunteers provide important support in enabling older men and women to participate fully in their communities. Visit site

World Water Day is held each year on 22 March and provides an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The official theme for World Water Day 2012 is Water and Food Security. Volunteerism plays a key role in improving access to water and food security, as it creates an enabling environment for building capacity through the participation of people in communication networks and decision-making processes. Visit site

International Women's Day is marked on 8 March and is an opportunity to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women and to raise awareness about the struggles still faced in achieving gender equality.

The official theme for International Women's Day 2012 is Empower Rural Women - End Hunger and Poverty. UNV supports this through different activities and initiatives and through UN Volunteer assignments and collaborative projects. Visit site

The World Day of Social Justice on 20 February is an opportunity to bring attention to the barriers to social well-being that people face due to gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.  This Day serves to support efforts in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment, gender equity and justice for all. UNV recognizes the efforts of all those who are working to advance social justice. Visit site

Human Rights Day is marked on 10 December and is a chance to pay tribute to all human rights defenders. It also marks the end of the 16 days of activism campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December, calling for the elimination of violence against women. UNV recognizes the efforts of the OHCHR and other partners working to achieve human rights for all. Visit site

On International Volunteer Day (IVD), we recognize and celebrate the work of millions of people who volunteer every day to advance sustainable development and peace around the world. Read

World AIDS Day is marked on 1 December each year and is an opportunity to unite people worldwide in the fight against HIV/AIDS, showing support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and commemorating those who have died.  Voluntary action is an integral part of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

UNV applies people-centred approaches in its collaboration with UNAIDS, UNDP, NGOs, community-based organizations, volunteer involving organizations, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS and national HIV/AIDS programmes. Visit site

Universal Children’s Day is celebrated each year to promote the well-being of children. UNICEF is a proponent of children’s rights and provides humanitarian and development assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. Voluntary action is fundamental to UNICEF in achieving its objectives. Visit site

In this vast and multifaceted country of 1.1 billion, the development challenges are immense. UNV volunteers are at the heart of UNDP’s efforts to tackle poverty here, and all of them are Indian nationals. Visit site

Volunteerism empowers people to take charge of their destinies and to help their countries move forward. Here we encounter stories from Liberia and Sierra Leone each illustrating the relationships between volunteerism, peace and development. Visit site