Bonn, Germany: UN Volunteers' Honorary Ambassador, Mr. Takehito Nakata of Japan, paid his first visit to Viet Nam from 11 to 17 August. Viet Nam was the 26th country Mr. Nakata visited in his capacity as Honorary Ambassador. "I am glad to be able to see first hand how Viet Nam overcomes difficulties through its reform process," he said. "I have a great respect for Vietnamese culture and traditions. I am always standing by the people of Viet Nam." Read

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: The Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, Mr. Takehito Nakata of Japan, today began a five-day visit to Viet Nam to promote the work of the United Nations and UNV. Read

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

New York, U.S.A.: The two-day Goodwill Ambassador and Messengers of Peace Meetings was host to 48 prominent personalities from the arts, film, music, sports, literature and public affairs. The event was an opportunity to promote a better understanding of the United Nations and the roles of celebrities with the organization. Read

New York, U.S.A.: Honorary Ambassador Takehito Nakata of Japan will represent United Nations Volunteers (UNV) at a gathering of United Nations Messengers of Peace (MOP) and Goodwill Ambassadors (GWA) at United Nations Headquarters from 18 to 19 June 2002. Read

Beijing, China: Experts on volunteering from 26 countries Tuesday called on governments and the United Nations to encourage the use of voluntary action "in addressing the full range of development challenges". 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

Madrid, Spain: Carrying forward momentum from the International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV), government representatives and UN officials addressing this week's Second World Assembly on Ageing called for further initiatives to urge the world's older persons to take up active roles in society through volunteer action. Read

New York, U.S.A.: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) will commemorate its 30th anniversary in a special event to be held at 3 p.m., 21 June in Conference Room 2 at UN Headquarters. The media is invited. Read

BONN: One of the most inspiring moments for UNV during 2000 came in September when Australian Kate Bandler, a UN Volunteer serving in East Timor, lifted high the Olympic Torch and ran it proudly for 400 metres in the outskirts of Sydney. One of two UN representatives in the relay, Kate joined a chain of runners bringing the torch through 1,000 townsin the 100 days leading into the Olympic Games - a massive undertaking brought to life by tens of thousands of volunteers. Read