Brick by brick, volunteer is rebuilding in Nepal

International Volunteer Day 2017
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In Nepal, in the wake of the 2015 earthquake the work of volunteers has been needed more than ever. After seeing the impact of the earthquake, young Nepali volunteer Preity, 25, decided to volunteer in her home country with sustainable development charity Raleigh International.

Many people in rural communities in Nepal have been living in cramped conditions in temporary shelters for the last two years, so Preity decided to volunteer to help build earthquake resilient homes for earthquake victims.

Preity said, “After the devastating earthquakes hit Nepal in 2015, communities near the epicentre of the earthquake suffered a massive loss of lives, houses and livelihoods. Many people from the epicentre district of Gorkha needed support to start their life again, as they are not financially strong enough to build a new house for themselves.

Helping refugees access the labour market in Turkey

International Volunteer Day 2017
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Turkey is host to more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees. As a national UN Volunteer with the UNHCR country office in Ankara, Cansu Güngör is involved in mobilizing the public and the private sector to facilitate access of refugees to the labour market. Cansu's main objective is to help them become self-reliant and to go on with their lives in Turkey.

As the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR supports the Turkish government response and coordinates the efforts of other UN agencies and partners across the country. With 90% of Syrian refugees living outside camps in urban and peri-urban areas, the needs for skills-development and employability are huge. As part of the Livelihoods Unit in Ankara, Cansu Güngör supports ways in which refugees can ensure their self-reliance.

UNDP EB Report (DP/2016/15)

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The Report for the 2014-2015 biennium presents the results and achievements of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in implementing its Strategic Framework, 2014-2017.

Volunteer at heart—the first international UN Volunteer from Kazakhstan

Dr. Teljan Jounisbekov
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Kazakhstan was still a part of the Soviet Union when Dr. Teljan Jounisbekov started his medical career. His expertise gave him the opportunity to serve in Burundi as part of the Soviet Union’s international aid programme for Africa. His passion for volunteerism, outstanding dedication and commitment, coupled to his skills and unique attitude, helped save many lives. It was this dedication that turned Dr. Teljan into Kazakhstan’s first international UN Volunteer.

The Soviet Union’s programme of aid to Africa, closed after the dissolution of the USSR, was recognised for sending talented professionals abroad. As the programme’s activities gradually came to an end, many professionals returned home to their families. Dr. Teljan Jounisbekov, however, felt the need to continue serving the people of Burundi. He opted to remain in the country and pursue his passion, a decision that was valued by the Ministry of Health of Burundi and supported by the offer of an extension of his contract. Dr.

Get out there closer to the people to serve the cause of the UN

Boram Kim
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While I was a university student, development cooperation as a field of study was just taking off in the Republic of Korea. My country was transitioning from being a recipient of development assistance to a donor country. I found an opportunity to intern at the United Nations Secretariat in New York in 2003, and after I finished studying I became a UN Volunteer. It was Korea’s history of conflict and mediation by the international community and the United Nations that originally inspired me to pursue such international experiences.

I had decided on my career path in international development during my studies in Korea and Spain. What became apparent though was that I desired to work in the field, to be closer to the lives we aim to impact. I started searching.

Conference on entrepreneurship, skill development held

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The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organised a one day ‘Regional Conference on Promoting Social Entrepreneurship and Skill Development amongst the Youth in the North-east Region’ on the IIE premises here today.

Report of the Secretary-General: Participation of United Nations Volunteers in peacekeeping operations (A/55/697)

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The Report provides information on the use of United Nations Volunteers and on the possibilities of expanding their use in peacekeeping operations in the future.

UNDP Governing Council Report (DP/1990/57/Add.1)

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Summary description and statistical analysis of UNV programme activities over the biennium 1988-1989.

Supporting the Special Criminal Court in Central African Republic

UNV’s support to the Special Criminal Court
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In August 2016, the Central African Government and the UN system signed off on a five-year joint project to support the creation of a Special Criminal Court, the overall objective of which is to contribute to fighting against impunity, mending the rule of law and social cohesion and supporting the process of national reconciliation. UNV’s support to the Special Criminal Court represents a component of this joint project focused on outreach activities that ensure the involvement of Central African Republic’s population, especially those particularly affected by the crimes falling under the Court’s jurisdiction. UNV leads activities that target the local communities, including youth and women, and aim to sensitize on the role, mandate and functioning of the Court.

In 2014, national authorities in CAR decided to establish a Special Criminal Court (SCC) to investigate and prosecute serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. The law on the creation of the Court was promulgated on the 3 June 2015. It demonstrated strong political willingness to end impunity and the importance of equality, justice and freedom in achieving sustainable peace.  

Supporting the mental health needs of frontline responders

International Volunteer Day 2017
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When the biggest natural disaster on record in Sierra Leone hit Freetown on 14 August, hundreds of staff and volunteers immediately joined in the response and relief efforts to assist those affected. The scale of the disaster challenged the authorities’ existing resources, particularly for search and rescue. “I played my part. Our contribution might not have made headlines in the media but it was a significant part of the process and I feel satisfied in myself to have supported these efforts,” says Dain Kay*, a volunteer grave digger in Waterloo village.

At the scenes of the mudslides and flash floods that killed over 500 people and displaced approximately 6000 others, volunteers played amazingly important roles in very many ways. According to Pieter Peters*, a resident of the downstream Kamayama community, rescuing people that were being washed away as well as recovering the dead from the gushing streams was frightening, but, he says, it had to be done. “We pulled both living and dead people from the flood waters in large numbers.”

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