Bonn, Germany: Whenever our televisions show distressing scenes of war, famine or disaster, inevitably we ask ourselves: “What can we do to help?” It’s the kind of question that makes us human, and many people do go the extra mile and act. Chances are that these men and women make change happen through their own free will, and without expectation of reward. Chances are that these people are volunteers. Read

Bonn, Germany: On 12 January 2010, at 16:53:09 local time, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Haiti affecting 3 million people. One year later, the people of Haiti are holding a series of events throughout the month of January to commemorate the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake. Read

Hanoi, Viet Nam: By being an online volunteer graphic designer through the Online Volunteering service, Luu Thi Ngoc in Vietnam is able to combine her love of doing something creative in her free time with her support for Caritas International's work to bring humanitarian and disaster relief to vulnerable communities. Read

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Mariana Nissen's work highlights how the cash-for-work programme is allowing Haitians to earn an income, helping their families and the country to recover from the disaster. Read

Jacmel, Haiti: UNV volunteers are helping feed Haitians cut off from vital food supplies by the January earthquake. UNV volunteer Hazem El Zein runs food distribution for the World Food Programme in the southeast region, distributing food to around 300,000 people. Read

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: To be a volunteer means more than doing what's expected of you. In the days and weeks after the Haiti earthquake, UNV volunteers made sure they got involved from the word go. Read

Pretoria, South Africa and Georgetown, Guyana: It's been demonstrated time and time again how important voluntary action is in the aftermath of natural disasters. UNV volunteers have been making a difference. Read

Lalomanu, Samoa: Whether it's earthquakes, tsunamis or extreme weather, when disaster strikes it's not the aid and rescue agencies who are the first on the scene to assist. It's volunteers who were there already. Read

Nangina, Kenya: UNV volunteer Nivah 'Tiga' Odwori, who died in the Haiti earthquake on 12 January, has been laid to rest in her native Kenya. The funeral was attended by about 350 people. Read

Bonn, Germany: As of 8 February, two UNV volunteers in Haiti at the time of the earthquake remain unaccounted for. All 14 Haitian nationals on leave in the country have now been accounted for. Read