30 December 2009

Gamela, Zambia: UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator Naheed Haque has hailed the volunteer spirit of youth contributing to their communities and resolving problems in Zambia and says she is inspired by their enthusiasm and motivation.

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, Ms Haque launched the Volunteering for our Planet campaign in Gamela, close to Choma.  Together with members of the host Tuyakumbele Youth Group, she planted citrus trees and called on community members to take action for the environment.

She told the assembled community that: "UNV volunteers with expertise in HIV/AIDS are among you, working with you to address cross-sectoral challenges.  I am impressed by the work you are going together."

Ms Haque was in Zambia to visit UNV initiatives in HIV/AIDS and community-centred development, record best practices and assess sustainability and be informed first-hand of the activities of UNV volunteers and their contributions to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable human development.

During the four days of the mission, her first visit to the field since taking office at UNV in July 2009, Ms Haque met with Government and UN counterparts and visited UNV volunteers working with communities in the field.

Youth Group Chairman Joseph Banda explained, "The group identified problems affecting our community, which include lack of adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS, high poverty levels and low literacy levels among youth, limited agricultural knowledge and skills and poor access to markets.  So we mobilized the community to enhance its own resources by offering study circles where skills can be gained and activities planned in HIV/AIDS awareness, gardening, livestock rearing, conservation farming, tree planting and marketing." He concludes proudly, "We are proud to say we have been successful and are open to the world to come and learn from us".

The Tuyakumbele Youth Group in Gamela covers 13 villages and works towards youth empowerment and freedom from HIV/AIDS.  It works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Food and Agriculture Organization, Zambia National Farmers’ Union, Africare and United Nations Volunteers programme.

The United Nations Volunteers programme was launched in Zambia in 1982 and has been successfully promoting volunteerism and contributing to the country’s national development since then.  There are currently 143 UNV volunteers serving in Zambia, working in a range of development sectors, including poverty reduction, governance, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, environment, gender and human rights, humanitarian relief, peace building and ICT programmes.