With the agriculture sector absorbing nearly 30 per cent of the country’s labour force, while providing livelihoods to 70 per cent of the country’s rural population, a majority of our communities are at the unrelenting mercy of inevitable climate shocks.  The Mahaweli River Basin, the largest draining area of Sri Lanka’s extensive collection of rivers, is home to a large proportion of the small rain-fed farming communities on the island. And, unsurprisingly, climate shocks have exacerbated the prevalent poverty and food insecurity within these communities. 

From 19 to 20 November 2019, stakeholders from volunteer-involving organizations, civil society, academia, governments and United Nations entities met in Ouagadougou, to discuss how volunteerism can contribute to peace and development in the Sahel region. The roundtable was initiated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, in collaboration with the African Institute for Economic Development and Planification (IDEP) and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), to produce evidence of the impact of volunteerism in the Sahel. 

The Deputy Executive Coordinator (DEC) started IVD by volunteering at a local school in Sochi, leading a Lesson of Kindness. During the lesson, the DEC shared with 75 children and teenagers his thoughts on the importance of volunteering in Russia and globally, his family traditions of volunteering and his personal experience with the development of volunteerism internationally.

The Deputy Executive Coordinator joined the celebration of the 34th IVD in China, the 5th Chinese Youth Volunteer Service Project Competition and Volunteer Service Exchange EXPO2019 held from 1-4 December in Dongguan, China.

For International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2019, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Viet Nam will have a joint celebration with UN agencies and thematic groups. The theme of the celebration will focus on equality and human rights for LGBTI groups in the country. UNV is partnering with UN Women, the UN Human Rights Thematic Group, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

For International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2019, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Viet Nam will have a joint celebration with UN agencies and thematic groups. The theme of the celebration will focus on equality and human rights for LGBTI groups in the country. UNV is partnering with UN Women, the UN Human Rights Thematic Group, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

For IVD, we are organizing a national celebration of volunteers. This will include an exhibit on the Sustainable Development Goals and and a fair of volunteer organizations to celebrate volunteerism for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. When:  7 December 2019, 10:00-16:00, at the Asia Mall in Bishkek

For IVD, we are organizing a national celebration of volunteers. This will include an exhibit on the Sustainable Development Goals and and a fair of volunteer organizations to celebrate volunteerism for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. When:  7 December 2019, 10:00-16:00, at the Asia Mall in Bishkek

On the occasion of IVD, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has highlighted initiatives that include more people in sustainable development through volunteerism. One such initiative is the new UN Community Volunteer category, which enables more people to participate directly in social, environmental and economic change.