Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyzstani youth are the focus of a new project launched today in the country’s capital aimed at increasing their participation in activities to improve their social conditions within the country. Funded by the Japanese Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan, the two-year UNV Youth Volunteerism Project will be carried out in all seven of the country’s provinces, reaching an estimated 1,400 youth participants. Read

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev has presented national UN Volunteer Maluda Tynaeva with the "Dank" award, Kyrgyzstan's highest state medal given to nationals and foreigners who have excelled in public service and have made substantial contributions to the country's development efforts. Read

Bonn, Germany: A Chinese proverb says: "Teach thy neighbour everything you know yourself". This is what Gérard Guillerm, a French information technology (IT) specialist and UN Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan practices every day. Read

BONN: With the help of international UNV field workers, villagers in Bangladesh make up their own minds on what must be done in their communities. Living directly with the people in rural areas, the 33 UN Volunteers from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and the Philippines consult with a wide range of youth and other community groups on what is needed, whether it be better health care for all or improved schooling for their children. Read

BONN: In traditional Kyrgyz culture, community mobilization and voluntarism is not new. The traditional "Ashar" (a traditional volunteer initiative whereby the community comes together to solve problems of common concern) still thrives in most rural communities. Read

Osh, Kyrgyzstan: Sharapat Abduloeve is 75 years old and she’s from Kara-Dykan village, about 60 km from Osh here in Kyrgyzstan. She wanted the poor children of her village to be able to attend kindergarten, and to do so all year round, through the harsh winter too. She received US$ 1,000 from our project to buy and install heating equipment so that the Ak-Shoola Kindergarten could do just that. Read