There are currently 18 UN Volunteers serving in Viet Nam, from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Nepal, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the USA as well as from Viet Nam itself. In the last five years, some 187 international and national UN Volunteers have been assigned to Viet Nam in the areas of poverty alleviation, social development, ethnic minorities, environmental management, HIV/AIDS and gender. Read

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

Pristina, Kosovo: The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) has launched a national UN Volunteer initiative to enable Kosovars to serve the causes of peace and development at home. Read

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR: After graduating from high school in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, Saysomone Bunsud had only very few opportunities open to her. For two years, she stayed at home, helping her parents work the family rice fields. Read

Bonn, Germany: The event, held in Luang Prabang from 24 July to 1 August, brought young people together from across the northern provinces. The 32 participants learned about relevant health issues, focusing on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: On day two of the newly born Democratic Republic of East Timor and only 10 days before the beginning of the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV), Sharon Capeling-Alakija, officially handed over to the East Timorese Don Carlos Foundation the "Nobel de la Paz" football field, a UNV rehabilitation project. Read

Rome, Italy: Fifteen UN Volunteer Interns recruited and fielded in countries around the world have completed assignments under a new initiative promoting the skills of young Italian professionals in development. Several of these volunteers will discuss their experiences at a special debriefing session in Rome. Read

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: UN Volunteers, in collaboration with the Connect UK office in Papua New Guinea (PNG) organized a special writing workshop on the 'importance of volunteerism' in early December. More than 30 youths from Port Moresby were told to share the knowledge and skills they learn from a mini writing workshop during the week. Read

Bonn, Germany: Youth volunteering in the Arab States 2001. Read

Bonn, Germany: Start young, stay green. Throughout 2001, volunteer awareness mushroomed through environmental clubs in tropical Guyana. In less than a year, the number of clubs affiliated with the country's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increased from 12 to 55. They span the populated coastland of Guyana and large areas of the interior, with such names as Teenage Action Rangers, Kanuku Environmental Warriors and Young Environmentalists. Read