"Volunteering for post-2015" is about how volunteerism contributes to sustainable development and refers to the ongoing post-2015 process for the definition of the new global development framework. Listen to what volunteering means for people from different cultures through interviews made in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guatemala, Nepal, Peru, and the Philippines, and find out why it is important for all of them. It probably is for you as well!

United Nations Volunteers, in partnership with different UN entities, supports the UN System efforts to shape the post-2015 agenda.

According to Marie-Josée Jacobs, Luxembourg's Minister for Family and Integration and Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, once a young person becomes a volunteer, it changes their life and they remain engaged. Ms Jacobs was speaking at a press conference chaired jointly with UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri at which a new Memorandum of Understanding between Luxembourg and UNV was signed.

Inspired by millions of volunteers acting for sustainable development around the world, UNV at Rio+20 is calling on decision-makers to recognize the importance of volunteering and civic engagement for the future of our planet. UN and other global leaders have repeatedly highlighted the need for the engagement of volunteers and communities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable development. A strong people-centred approach to development through voluntary action is already happening in the field, integrating social, economic and environmental transformation.

Women food cooperatives in the Lebanese region of Bekaa produce high quality natural jams, pickles, juice, and other Lebanese delights. While they have good manufacturing facilities and excellent products, marketing and sales continue to be a challenge. As part of UNV's Corporate/Private Sector programme, two experts from Kraft Foods went on a volunteer assignment to Lebanon to assist the cooperatives in boosting sales.

Making a difference: An assessment of volunteer interventions addressing gender-based violence in Cambodia (Partners for Prevention, 2010) highlights the crucial role and the far-reaching positive effects that community volunteers play in the prevention and response to gender-based violence.

So many names - so little space.

UNV, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have been working since 2014 on the project to strengthen the NYKS and NSS across 58 districts in 27 states. The initiative aims to facilitate inclusive youth voice and action by forming youth clubs and engaging youth in volunteering for community development, skills development and awareness raising on government programmes at the grassroot levels, and strengthening the delivery of services in hard-to-reach locations.

While there are an estimated 370 million indigenous people around the world, most remain largely excluded from mainstream decision-making processes. As a result, despite making up 5 per cent of the world’s population, 15 per cent of indigenous people suffer from extreme poverty.