You were the 100th United Nations Youth Volunteer (UNYV) deployed by SEF. What is your assessment of this young talent promotion programme?

Kazakhstan contributes to the work of UNV through its Full Funding programme, cost-sharing efforts and support for International Volunteer Day (IVD) and other events. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan is a committed partner, and has been making a financial contribution of US $2,000 to UNV's Special Voluntary Fund (SVF) every year since 2016.

Since then, and despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic posed on the implementation of the UNV Full Funding Programme, a total of 62 Russian fully funded UN Volunteers have been supporting the development and humanitarian efforts of the UN worldwide. During 2024, 63 Russian nationals served as UN Volunteers, 25 of them fully funded by the Government.

Now a year into the pandemic, global health matters have become the most important issue facing peace and development worldwide. Indeed, as a part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, good health and wellbeing are crucial not only for those in need, but also for a more prosperous and sustainable world. "No country will be safe from COVID-19 until all countries are safe." --UN Secretary-General António Guterres

It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 outbreak started. Although there have been countless challenges, which were hard to resolve, we are enduring these testing times well together. Among those who have been tirelessly fighting COVID-19 – either on the frontlines or by wearing masks or staying at home – we would like to recognize and honour our UN Volunteers' tremendous efforts to address the challenges of the pandemic.

Spain, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the deployment of fully funded UN Volunteers worldwide. For instance, these volunteers support UN efforts to defend human rights, promote gender equality and foster food security in Latin America and Africa.

In 2024, the Government of Luxembourg generously sponsored two assignments for nationals from its priority development cooperation countries.

During the Global Technical Meeting (GTM) on Reimagining Volunteerism for the 2030 Agenda, high-ranking officials and volunteers exchanged on how volunteering is contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), how governments and organizations can better protect volunteers, and how volunteering can and should be recognized.

In 2024, 238 Koreans served as UN Volunteers, 161 of whom were funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea.

We live in turbulent times and compacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of mental health is not only relevant but crucial. Mental health is more than the presence or absence of a mental illness. It is a crossroad between emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.