Amhara and Oromia States, Ethiopia: A UNV-led youth volunteering project is helping to combat desertification in Ethiopia by teaching young people about the environment and putting them to work in their communities. Read

Kiev, Ukraine: Building civil society in the former Eastern bloc countries presents some unique challenges. Along with local partners, UNV and UNDP are working together to boost the role of volunteerism there. Read

Quibdó, Colombia: According to UNHCR, 3 million Colombians have been displaced by ongoing civil conflict, the largest group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the world. UNV in Colombia is supporting a project for university volunteers to share their energy and skills with these people. Read

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Policy makers and senior officials this week praised a UNV programme designed to foster regional integration, social cohesion and poverty reduction in the Balkans. Read

Tokyo, Japan: The Government of Japan and the UN have extended assistance to the Joint Program for the Support of Human Security in Honduras (PCASH) for the second year, with a contribution of US $1.28 million through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. The programme now involves seven UNV volunteers, the only PCASH personnel engaged in the country. Read

Cairo, Egypt: Young Egyptians are identifying creative means of engaging themselves in the development process, and activities supported by UNV build on Egypt's existing volunteering and civic participation potential. Read

San Salvador, El Salvador: UNV is promoting the role of volunteerism for development in Latin American countries, in preparation for the Ibero-American Summit in October. Read

Bong County, Liberia: The first volunteers in Liberia’s new National Youth Volunteer Service (NYVS) programme have started duties in Bong County under the supervision of national UNV volunteer Ms Charlotte Berrian. The 21 volunteers in Bong County are among up to 100 volunteers who will support local development in four counties across Liberia in the first implementation of the programme. Ms Berrian has spent the past 3 months sensitizing communities about the programme and its objectives.  Read

Ecuador: From April 16th to 27th 2007 John Kelly (from Tarrytown, NY) and I (Curitiba, Brazil) participated in a joint United Nations – Kraft Volunteer mission in Ecuador supporting FINE (Fundación para la Integración del Niño Especial), a non-profit, socially engaged organization operating in the Quito region, which helps poor and handicapped people, in particular youths over 15 years with Down syndrome. Read

Monrovia, Liberia: The Government of Liberia and the United Nations Development Programme have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a partnership for the official launch of the National Youth Volunteers Services (NYVS) programme in Liberia. The Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, Dr. Toga McIntosh signed for the Liberian Government while UNDP Country Director Steven Ursino signed on behalf of UNDP. Read