Report found that volunteerism served to strengthen local institutions in the disaster-affected sites, mobilize and develop the capacities of distraught communities, and increase coordination efforts among key players that responded to the earthquake.
Furthermore, the report posits that through their engagement in response efforts at the community level, UN Volunteers were able to help advance the social inclusion of women, promote volunteerism among local people and decision-makers, and create opportunities for youth participation and capacity development.
According to Richard Dictus, former UNV Executive Coordinator, the support provided by UN Volunteers in the earthquake response “has shown how volunteers can provide vital support to and cooperate with the community in tackling the effects of a tremendous disaster, while transferring skills and knowledge to people from the community in order to help build greater resilience.”