Elbasan, Albania: Volunteering for the first time in a summer camp for children, she saw it as a kind of psychological and social training for children, helping them to socialize. “This helps them to overcome shyness and to express themselves through games and different activities.” Read

Tirana, Albania: In Albania – the country with the highest percentage of youth in Southeast Europe – Roma youth face heavy discrimination. Their exclusion from sports competitions, school events, vocational training and community life often has a negative impact on their self-confidence. Four Albanians enlisted as UN Volunteers to share their experience directly with youth from nearly 2,000 Roma and Egyptian families. Read

Vuno, Albania: The camp helped to increase awareness among the participants about volunteerism and the importance of voluntary actions for community mobilization and local development. Read

Kiev, Ukraine: Building civil society in the former Eastern bloc countries presents some unique challenges. Along with local partners, UNV and UNDP are working together to boost the role of volunteerism there. Read

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Policy makers and senior officials this week praised a UNV programme designed to foster regional integration, social cohesion and poverty reduction in the Balkans. Read