Bonn, Germany: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) today launched a joint initiative harnessing voluntary action to tackle youth unemployment and land degradation leading to desertification in Cape Verde. Read

Vientiane, Lao PDR: The Provincial Tourism Office is developing treks that will allow tourists to visit and sleep in villages of various ethnic groups. They will learn about the culture and traditions of each group, about local plants and wildlife, and walk and canoe through some of the most spectacular scenery in the province. Read

Plymouth, Montserrat: Joel Maranhao is a UN Volunteer and software engineer attached to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory in the Caribbean. His daily work involves such activities as maintaining computers that acquire and process seismic data, improving alarm and monitoring systems and delving into databases. For a computer expert, it all sounds routine. But he works in the shadow of an active volcano. This the real story, from his perspective. 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) started in Swaziland in 1983 with the assignment of a graphic artist under World Health Organization's (WHO) Swaziland National Family Planning Programme. Read

Geneva, Switzerland: The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) has been awarded a United Nations Sasakawa Certificate of Merit for its achievements in mobilizing university graduates to support disaster reduction initiatives in Guatemala. Read

"I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to you, on behalf of UNV, the United Nations Volunteer programme. Time is short, so let's get to the heart of the matter." Read

Johannesburg, South Africa: Delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) have directed their attention to the three recognized cornerstones of sustainable development: economic growth, environmental protection and social development. In a statement at the WSSD, the head of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) has proposed a fourth cornerstone to empower and stabilize development strategies: voluntary action. Read

Johannesburg, South Africa: Panellists taking part in a side event on community involvement and volunteering at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) have urged governments to increase cooperation with voluntary organizations in a bid to improve chances for a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world. Read

Rajasthan, India: In India's Rajasthan State, national UN Volunteer and water specialist Kulwant Singh is deeply involved in reviving traditional rainwater conservation practices and stirring local activism as a sustainable solution to the region's recurrent water shortages Read