Kabul, Afghanistan: After decades of war, Afghanistan is gearing up for presidential elections on 20 August 2009. This will be the second democratic cycle the country has seen – and just as in 2004, UNV volunteers are heavily involved with the electoral process. Visit site

Eastern Afghanistan: Every few days, UNV volunteer Azita dons her headscarf and heads out to the Afghan provinces. “When I leave for work in the morning, it’s already 31-32 degrees out,” she comments. Read

Northern Afghanistan: “Things worked differently in other countries I have worked in,” says Tuch, a UNV volunteer Electoral Adviser. “Here you have to find new ways to work with people. You need to put yourself in their shoes.” Read

Western Afghanistan: “This time,” says Shiringi, a UNV volunteer working with UNDP/ELECT supporting the Independent Election Commission, “we are in the co-driver’s seat. The work we are doing with our national counterparts is really building capacity for the future.” Read

Northern Afghanistan: “I am still moved to see people travelling for miles to queue for a registration card and participate in elections,” confesses Jetiti, a UNV volunteer in a region of Afghanistan where security concerns have recently increased significantly. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: A total of 62 international UNV volunteers have arrived in Timor Leste to support the coming local elections, to meet a request of the Government of Timor-Leste. Read

Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire: In post-conflict Côte d'Ivoire, enabling the democratic process means a lot of work preparing for the upcoming elections. In the UN Mission Electoral Team, 124 of 175 staff are UNV volunteers. Read

Khartoum, Sudan: UNV Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri, has spent five days in Sudan, meeting one of the largest contingents of UNV volunteers in the field. Read

Warrap, Sudan: Do I like it all the time? No! Do I complain sometimes? Of course!... Then on the flip side, there is so much to be grateful for. I have grown much stronger emotionally and mentally and have a better understanding of myself. Read

Tonkolili, Sierra Leone: As Operations Advisor, I came up with an approach to strengthen the working relationship with the political parties. I proposed through the NEC that a committee should be formed, which would include three representatives from each party. The move was welcomed and with the blessings of NEC Commissioner, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee was formed... Ever since, the political parties have entered dialogue as friends. Read