Lilongwe, Malawi: For the past few weeks, UNV volunteer Laura Collins can not help but notice the "Stop Child Abuse" stickers posted in the main town square of the capital Lilongwe. The campaign aims to break the silence around child abuse and convince leaders to commit to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse against children – including commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour and harmful traditional practices, such as early marriages. Read

Johannesburg, South Africa: The indispensable role of volunteers in helping countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals is to be explored in a new co-publication by the CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE). Read

Cairo, Egypt: The 8 boats participating in a ‘Sailing the Nile’ campaign reached their final destination in Cairo last Thursday. The fleet had sailed down the Nile with stops in eight Egyptian towns to promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and MDG projects involving volunteerism. Read

Bonn, Germany: Every day, countless citizens volunteer their time, energy and skills in response to crises or people in need. International Volunteer Day (IVD) was instituted to make visible and recognize the contribution of these unknown heroes, who, by their engagement, bring their countries one step closer to the Millennium Development Goals. Read

Turin, Italy: Beyond the 17 days of sports and athletic glory, the Torino Winter Olympics is serving as a platform to highlight the role of volunteers in not only the Olympic Games but in other areas of society. Read