New York: On Monday 29 April, UNV Executive Coordinator Richard Dictus briefed Member States and Permanent Observers to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Richard joined the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs for the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Thomas Seltzer, in updating ECOSOC on the progress made on the Secretary-General’s Five-Year Action Agenda as it relates to youth. Read

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Volunteerism is an important and an integral element of society. It provides us with an opportunity to contribute to peace and human development. Anyone can become a volunteer – the decision depends only on our own personal willingness and capabilities. Read

Zanzibar, Tanzania: As a UN Volunteer working with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Zanzibar, I am involved in activities on sexual and reproductive health, working closely with government institutions. Looking for new innovative methods to raise the awareness of young people is one of the things I have been working on during my assignment with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme. Theatre is a good way to raise awareness of women-related issues. Read

Oslo, Norway: Last week Richard Dictus, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, joined distinguished guests such as the Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and the Norwegian Minister of International Development, in speaking at Fredskorpset’s Youth Leadership Conference in Oslo. Read

Prague, Czech Republic: In January, the seven Czech youth volunteers selected to serve in the UNV Internship Programme met Tomáš Dub, their country's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who expressed his belief in their work and UNV's mission. The volunteers, funded by the Czech Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are being deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kosovo, Nigeria and Vietnam. Read