This is one of a series of six stories for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2022. The theme for this IVD is solidarity through volunteering – Together, act now. On 5 December, through the world, the value of volunteers is celebrated and recognized. While the world grapples with humanitarian and development challenges – amid wars and climate change, we need volunteers. We need people working together for a common good.
One of the prime examples of working together for a common good is a volunteer initiative made possible by the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Peru. Nourishing hope, protecting families – a tele-guidance service helps Venezuelan refugees and migrants with good nutrition practices, smart shopping and access to social services.
Looking at estimates of UNHCR from 2021, 1.32 out of 6 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants are in Peru. Of which, 810,000 are in extreme need of food, health and social services.
Only through volunteers could WFP, UNDP and UNV commit to the vulnerable populations' right to basic human services.
UN Volunteers helped to get more support from civil society – and this ripple effect saw more than 5,500 volunteers come together to help this initiative in Peru – all of whom received training.
About 86,000 phone calls later – more than 65,000 Venezuelan families in Peru got important information on nutrition, food purchases and social protection.
In training we met migrants who joined in as volunteers to help their peers. That means that there's a dialogue between Peruvian and Venezuelan community where labels no longer matter. What matters is that there are people wanting to help. --Julio Moreno, UN Volunteer training civil society volunteers
Volunteers training other volunteers to help refugees and migrants access a dignified life. That's what solidarity is all about. That's what community initiatives are all about. And that's what nourishing hope is all about.
Read the full story about community volunteering here.
Be inspired by volunteers to #TogetherActNow and lend a helping hand in your community. Together we can all do our part.