Vuno, Albania: The camp helped to increase awareness among the participants about volunteerism and the importance of voluntary actions for community mobilization and local development. Read

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Hundreds of citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina got together to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5th. United Nations agencies, ministries, municipalities, towns, schools and NGOs around the country organized clean-ups, exhibitions and cultural events. Read

Bonn, Germany: Forest conservation and natural resource management become more sustainable when there is ownership at the community level. Read

In marking World Migratory Bird Day 2011, 14-15 May, Flavia Pansieri, UNV Executive Coordinator, notes the critical role volunteers play participating and engaging others in the environmental movement. Read

Kavango, Namibia: On 5 February 2011 His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia, paid a two-hour visit to the Siya Community Based Adaptation(CBA) Self Help Group in the Kavango Region. Read

Socotra, Yemen: At first, local women kept their distance from Bohdana Rambouskova (Czech Republic), a UN Volunteer Communication Officer with the Socotra Governance and Biodiversity Project.  After she offered free English classes to the girls and women on this remote Yemeni island, they extended their hospitality and started inviting her to social gatherings at their homes.  Read

Fasitootai, Samoa: This year the IVD celebration focused on the theme Volunteering for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions to the adverse impacts of climate change, achieving the MDGs is made more challenging. On 4 December 2010, over 100 local and international volunteers joined hands in cleaning up and planting mangroves in Fasitootai, northwest of Samoa’s Upolu Island. In less than two hours they cleared about 10,000 sq meters of Fasitootai’s coastline and planted 250 mangrove seedlings. Read

Kassala, Sudan: Nigerian UNV volunteer, Murdakai Titus, organized a successful community wide tree planting at the Shagarab Refugee Camps 1,2 and 3 near Kassala in eastern Sudan. Read

Kadugli, Sudan: Working with the United Nations Mission in the Sudan, UNV volunteer Derek O’Rourke's role is to make life as comfortable as possible for peacekeepers in the field. He has also initiated a UNV group supporting volunteer activities with communities, promoting environmental awareness and community voluntary action. Read

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations General Assembly designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. As ever, voluntary action will be key to achieving its goals. Read