Invisible to Most. Indispensable to Millions.

United Nations Volunteers
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We think we know who volunteers are—until we look closer. They are not a single age, profession, or type of person. They are students, engineers, parents, activists, neighbours. Most pass through life unnoticed. Yet behind some of the world's toughest challenges are ordinary people doing extraordinary work—supporting those forced to flee, helping communities recover, protecting the environment, and creating opportunities where none existed before. As we approach World Humanitarian Day, we bring you the story of one of them. 

For many people, opportunities to volunteer with the United Nations remain little known. Kateřina Rohanová understands that feeling. Before joining the United Nations, she volunteered in different settings, from summer camps to dance studios but never imagined that volunteering also existed within the UN. She certainly didn't expect that one day she would become a UN Volunteer herself.

UNV Welcomes Recognition of Volunteerism in the 2026 HLPF Ministerial Declaration

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A major outcome of the Forum was the inclusion of volunteerism in the Ministerial Declaration, recognizing volunteers' contributions to supporting communities, strengthening resilience and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This recognition is an important milestone for IVY 2026 and shows growing global support for volunteerism as a driver of sustainable development.

Online Volunteers bring Intergenerational Peace Circles to Communities

United Nations Peace & Security
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Half the world's population is below the age of 30, and many young people today live in areas affected by conflict and violence. As they grow up amidst polarization, insecurity and protracted violence, peace feels like a distant concept. It is spoken about in far away parliaments and convention centers, disconnected from daily realities. Too often, decisions about peace and security are made without the young voices that will be affected.

This discrepancy gave rise to the United Nations' Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World campaign, which works to change the dynamic. In an active outreach strategy, the campaign has recently onboarded around 100 Online Volunteers, the majority of them under the age of 35, from all over the world as peace mobilizers, facilitated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV).

From Guinea to Nicaragua, from North Macedonia to Uzbekistan, and from Australia to Peru, these Online Volunteers who joined the campaign come from geographically diverse places. Some are students, others are professionals. They are connected by a shared belief that peace begins with dialogue.

As these Online Volunteers are the experts and influencers within their communities, they are able to lead peace and security dialogues that are tailored to the specific context in which they are set.

How Do You Spread a Message When Your Team Is Small?

United Nations Volunteers
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Last year, the United Nations turned 80. To mark the milestone, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Manama, which covers Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, launched UN80, a three-month social media campaign. But UNIC Manama wanted more than likes and shares: it wanted people to actually pause and reflect on what the UN does, and why it matters. The challenge wasn’t the message. It was the reach. A small team can only take an idea so far on its own. So UNIC Manama turned to Online Volunteers through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), proving that a small team doesn't have to think small. The result, says Ahmed Ben Lassoued, Director of UNIC Manama, far exceeded anything they thought possible.

“The challenge was clear: how do we expand our message in a meaningful way without overextending the team?” 

Running a high-frequency campaign across multiple social media platforms for three months takes time, consistency and sustained effort. “Our goals were ambitious. We wanted to educate, raise awareness, convince and inspire people about the United Nations. But our resources were limited,” shared Ahmed Ben Lassoued. Organic reach on social media is hard to scale, especially with such a diverse audience. 

Every Click Carries Responsibility

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In Uzbekistan the number of cybercrimes has increased more than 12 times since 2021, rising from 4,865 to 62,440 cases. Behind these numbers are real people navigating online spaces without always knowing how to recognize risks, protect their data, or respond to digital threats.

The Cyber Safety project was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan, with support from UN Volunteers, to help people stay safe online and respond to growing cyber threats.

Through awareness sessions and community outreach, volunteers helped people across Uzbekistan better understand digital risks and protect their rights online. The first article on this topic included the experience of UN Volunteer, Umidjon Khujabekov, and his contribution to promoting safer digital spaces. Now, four more UN Volunteers reflect on the moments that showed them the real impact of their work. 

Kazakhstan’s Volunteer Movement Is Growing—What Comes Next?

An Interview with IVY 2026 Secretariat
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In a recent interview with the Kazakhstani media outlet KazPravda, Sandra Koch, Team Lead for the International Volunteer Year (IVY 2026), reflects on volunteering trends in Kazakhstan and discusses how volunteering can become more accessible, effective and sustainable across the region and beyond.

Julia Mager: "How long has UNV been working with Kazakhstan?"  

Sandra Koch: "The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1993. The engagement has increased in recent years, particularly in the context of regional cooperation and IVY 2026, where Kazakhstan played a leading role in its proclamation." 

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