BONN: One of the most inspiring moments for UNV during 2000 came in September when Australian Kate Bandler, a UN Volunteer serving in East Timor, lifted high the Olympic Torch and ran it proudly for 400 metres in the outskirts of Sydney. One of two UN representatives in the relay, Kate joined a chain of runners bringing the torch through 1,000 townsin the 100 days leading into the Olympic Games - a massive undertaking brought to life by tens of thousands of volunteers. Read
Countries: Timor-Leste
Other languages: en français
Bonn, Germany: By the end of 2000, 11,000 individual volunteers and organizations supporting the objectives of the International Year of Volunteers had registered on a UNV-managed database. Read
More about: ICT
Other languages: en français
Bonn, Germany: Wherever you find the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - with more than 130 country offices across the developing world - you find the UN Volunteers (UNV) programme working alongside, helping combat poverty, disease and disaster and provide new opportunities and hope. Read
More about: Emergency relief ICT
Other languages: en français
Bonn, Germany: The year 2000 saw thousands of East Timorese crossing borders to get home after post-referendum violence forced them to flee as refugees. UN Volunteers also came back as soon as possible to help sow seeds for a new nation. From fisheries to forestry, from trade to treasuries, they are playing an integral role with the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). Read
More about: Peace & conflict resolution
Other languages: en français
Bonn, Germany: The 70 UN Volunteers serving with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) - providing supplies, functioning vehicles and satellite communications - do not lay down their tools at the end of the day. In evenings and on weekends, they get together as the UNV Action Team and extend their volunteer services to districts of the capital Freetown, such as in Kissy. Read
Creating caring cities
Bonn, Germany: UN Volunteers in Chad take people off the street - and send them straight back in an ambitious clean-up drive. Owing to a lack of public rubbish collection services and latrines, waste has piled up in the capital N'djamena. The UNV team has brought together groups to rid the capital of garbage and the health risks that come with it. Read
Living and learning with HIV/AIDS
Bonn, Germany: People living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic are banding together, and standing up for their rights. Knowing best what they need, they support each other in self-help groups - backed by HIV-positive UN Volunteers. As peer counsellors and educators, these UNVs inform HIV-infected people about the help they can receive and encourage them to speak out and get involved. In prisons, for example, they support inmates who have decided to take action against the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS in detention cells. Read
Engaging youth
Bonn, Germany: In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution calling on Member States to promote volunteerism. It specifically encourages the greater involvement of youth and older people. Read
More about: Environment Youth
Other languages: en français
BONN: Sharing proven skills, 287 UN Volunteers over the age of 55 served in developing countries during 2000. Many of these UNVs are retired persons who have worked in the private sector. Read
More about: Volunteering advocacy
Other languages: en français
BONN: UNV’s preparations for 2001, the International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001), came into full swing during 2000. UNV mounted a massive advocacy campaign and became a hub of information as news of volunteer events flowed in from all corners of the globe. The interactive IYV web site developed into a portal for a broad network of voluntary organizations, researchers, governments and UN partners. Read
Other languages: en français
