Bonn, Germany: Volunteers are adding their voices to fervent calls for increased efforts to bring sustainable development and revitalized economic activity to the African continent. As the Group of Eight (G8) leaders prepared to tackle challenges raised by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), such as steps to reduce poverty and corruption as well as to increase investment and debt relief, a group of Southern Africans took a parallel track and appealed for pro-volunteer policies and legislation. Read

Midrand, South Africa: Volunteers from Southern African countries gathered for two days, from 16 to 17 May, to consolidate a network of organizations established during the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001. The conference gathered participants from seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to explore ways to strengthen cooperation and to prepare for volunteer discussion at the upcoming African Union Head of State and Government meeting, this July, and the World Summit for Sustainable Development (Rio +10), this August in Johannesburg. Read

BONN: A United Nations International Short-Term Advisory Resources (UNISTAR) adviser made two trips to the region in 1999 to support the Government in developing plans to invest profits from oil for vocational training and environmental protection. The adviser also worked with his longer-term UNV colleagues to design a workplan for the Atyrau Sustainable Development Centre, which promotes community participation in health and social services. Read

BONN: A workshop in South Africa outlines security measures for UNVs in crisis situations. Read

Bonn, Germany: "Being a UNV means being part of a team", said UNV Heather Branton during the launch of the "Capacity Building of SASVO" project at Pretoria University, South Africa. Read