Quito, Ecuador: Volunteerism for development has been formally recognized for the first time in the new Constitution of Ecuador, which was approved through a referendum on 28 September 2008. This move will allow legislators to draft a new law on volunteerism for development in Ecuador. Read

Quito, Ecuador: Since 2006, UNV has been cooperating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ecuador on teaching English to displaced people. The project mobilizes local volunteers who help refugees prepare for life in English-speaking destinations. 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

Quito, Ecuador: The Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, Mr. Takehito Nakata of Japan, recently visited Ecuador for five days, spreading the message of volunteerism and its role in community development. Read

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, the Inter-American Development Bank’s Inter-American Initiative on Social Capital, Ethics and Development and the UN-Habitat will launch “Cities with Heart” on International Volunteer Day, 5 December. Read