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.”

Volunteers fight Zika in the aftermath of natural disasters

International Volunteer Day 2017
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In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret which hit Trinidad and Tobago in June 2017, many areas were affected by heavy rains, flooding and landslides. With the rains, some areas reported an influx of mosquitoes. Volunteers, together with the Regional Corporations, carried out damage assessments and assisted affected residents in cleaning up their homes and businesses.

Akeisha Benjamin, Zika Project Coordinator with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross society (TTRCS) explains, “As people are cleaning up from the floods we are pushing the message to get rid of stagnant waters as quickly as possible, to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Given the fact that some people had to evacuate and go to shelters, we are encouraging affected persons to clean up quickly. We are also working with the Regional Corporations to spread the message.” The focus of the project has primarily been on community and school’s outreach in selected areas.

Volunteers provide rescue and first aid to people affected by earthquake in Iran and Iraq

International Volunteer Day 2017
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Red Crescent volunteers in northern Iraq and Iran are providing urgent search and rescue and first aid to victims of the devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the region on 12 November 2017.

According to Iran Red Crescent, at least 328 people have been killed and 3,950 injured. In Iraq, the Iraqi Red Crescent report that nine people have been killed and more than 425 injured.

Volunteers in race against time to find survivors in Sierra Leone mudslides

International Volunteer Day 2017
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Red Cross staff and volunteers worked alongside emergency officials to rescue survivors and assist desperate communities that lost their homes and loved ones in the mudslides in and around the capital Freetown in August 2017.

The most severe mudslides – triggered by three days of heavy rains – occurred in the coastal suburb of Racecourse on the city’s eastern edge, as well as in Regent and Lumley where thousands of makeshift settlements are home to the city’s poorest communities.

Response teams, including dozens of Sierra Leone Red Cross (SLRCS) volunteers recovered people from the mud and debris, helping evacuate residents, transferring bodies to morgues and providing medical care to the injured.

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