Japan has a long tradition of strong support for the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and volunteering, in general.

Last week, UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri visited the earthquake and tsunami stricken town of Minami Sanriku cho and spoke at the opening of the 20th Japanese National Volunteer Festival Tokyo.  She offered her deepest sympathies to the people of Japan and expressed her great admiration for the millions who are engaged as volunteers throughout the country. Read

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Before I visited Cambodia, the image I had of people there was not very clear. I just considered them as people living in a developing country. After spending a couple of days there, I began to understand what the Cambodians were like. Read

Freetown, Sierra Leone: Natsuko Kaneyama is a UNV volunteer Programme Manager for Youth and Peacebuilding. Her job is to help young people get out of poverty and into the economy. Read

Freetown, Sierra Leone: Natsuko Kaneyama from Osaka, Japan, aims to help Sierra Leone's young people get out of poverty and into the economy. You can meet some of these youth here. Read

Pristina, Kosovo: Conflicts do not end when the shooting stops, and thorny issues often remain for decades. A Japanese UNV volunteer has completed a pioneering study which will help displaced people rebuild their lives. Read