Freetown, Sierra Leone: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, and his deputy for Governance and Stabilization in his capacity as the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Alan Doss, yesterday signed a joint pilot initiative launched by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Freetown. Read

Since January 2000, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has supported the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) by supplying a number of UN Volunteers to assist in the peacekeeping mission. Twenty international UN Volunteers are also active in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of Sierra Leone's ex-combatants. Read

Bonn, Germany: United Nations Volunteers Honorary Ambassador Takehito Nakata of Japan completed his five-day mission to Samoa where he met with government officials, diplomatic corps and UN Volunteers to promote volunteerism and the work of the UNV programme in the South Pacific island. Read

The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) has been operating in Ethiopia since the early 1970s. The United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), in conjunction with the Ethiopian Government, is finalizing arrangements for the establishment of a national UN Volunteers programme. Also, it is hoped a national volunteer programme will strengthen support for the use of national volunteers as key players in effectively understanding local and national development needs. Read

Bonn, Germany/Rome, Italy: The United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS), a volunteer initiative to help bridge the digital divide, today received a Global Junior Challenge 2002 award for its University Volunteer Network. Read

Bonn, Germany: In Afghanistan, there is a long and bumpy road leading from survival to a strong, secure society. Decades of war and civil strife have left a legacy of fear and suffering. Many victims are left without homes or a means to make a living. Against all odds, Afghans are starting again. Teaming up with a range of partners, UN Volunteers are stepping in to help. Read

Pristina, Kosovo: On Tuesday 3 December 2002, UNV Kosovo launched an exhibition about volunteer work in the National Theatre Pristina to celebrate the International Volunteer Day 2002. Read

UN Volunteers were also involved in the promotion of human rights in collaboration with the United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP). UN Volunteers' current contribution to Rwanda Today, there are 20 UN Volunteers serving in Rwanda working with UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, and the United Nations ... Read

Bonn, Germany: Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1996 acknowledges volunteer contributions during visit in Bonn. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: A special mission of officials from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, ended a four-day mission on 23 November. Read