Kazakhstan : Through a state programme, the Government of Kazakhstan is making efforts to encourage the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs from abroad. A former repatriate himself, UN Volunteer Nurbakhit Atan has advised more than 500 repatriates and conducted joint volunteer actions in the Ulan district. Read

Astana, Kazakhstan: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Kazakhstan organized a series of events to celebrate IVD 2008, starting from the month of September with a competition for journalists and public awareness campaigns. Read

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Kazakh newspaper New Generation interviews Italian UNV volunteer Communications Assistant Simona Gallese on her work in Almaty. "I love being a volunteer because I feel I am useful to the society, and I get satisfaction by helping others," she says. 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

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Early results of a survey by United Nations Volunteers in Kazakhstan suggest that the concept of volunteerism is evolving in the country, and can be an effective tool for civil society development. Read