For the first time, the Peruvian government organized a national event to convene volunteer leaders from all 24 regions of the country to jointly reflect, learn, collaborate and celebrate volunteer efforts in involving individuals, especially those left behind, in addressing development challenges. 

In 1971, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme deployed its first 35 UN Volunteers to serve in Chad, Bangladesh and Yemen with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Two years later, in 1973, the number grew to 93 UN Volunteers serving for the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and FAO.

From 19 to 20 November 2019, stakeholders from volunteer-involving organizations, civil society, academia, governments and United Nations entities met in Ouagadougou, to discuss how volunteerism can contribute to peace and development in the Sahel region. The roundtable was initiated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, in collaboration with the African Institute for Economic Development and Planification (IDEP) and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), to produce evidence of the impact of volunteerism in the Sahel. 

The Deputy Executive Coordinator (DEC) started IVD by volunteering at a local school in Sochi, leading a Lesson of Kindness. During the lesson, the DEC shared with 75 children and teenagers his thoughts on the importance of volunteering in Russia and globally, his family traditions of volunteering and his personal experience with the development of volunteerism internationally.

The Deputy Executive Coordinator joined the celebration of the 34th IVD in China, the 5th Chinese Youth Volunteer Service Project Competition and Volunteer Service Exchange EXPO2019 held from 1-4 December in Dongguan, China.

For International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2019, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Viet Nam will have a joint celebration with UN agencies and thematic groups. The theme of the celebration will focus on equality and human rights for LGBTI groups in the country. UNV is partnering with UN Women, the UN Human Rights Thematic Group, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

For International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2019, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Viet Nam will have a joint celebration with UN agencies and thematic groups. The theme of the celebration will focus on equality and human rights for LGBTI groups in the country. UNV is partnering with UN Women, the UN Human Rights Thematic Group, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

For IVD, we are organizing a national celebration of volunteers. This will include an exhibit on the Sustainable Development Goals and and a fair of volunteer organizations to celebrate volunteerism for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. When:  7 December 2019, 10:00-16:00, at the Asia Mall in Bishkek