Francesca De Antoni, 31, is a UN Volunteer and a Programme Coordinator based in UN Women’s office in Mali for a project supported by the Peacebuilding Fund. She recently participated in a learning workshop organized jointly by UN Women, Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in New York, from 24 to 27 October 2016, in the sidelines of the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security.
From where I stand: Francesca De Antoni
The 2014-2015 annual report on the Program for Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding
The 2014-2015 annual report on the Program for Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding through Volunteer Assignments is now available. The report details the experience and contributions of the 16 Japanese nationals deployed during 2014 and 2015 as United Nations Volunteers under the HRD Program which is a joint partnership among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center and UNV, funded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The 2014-2015 annual report on the Program for Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding through Volunteer Assignments is now available. The report details the experience and contributions of the 16 Japanese nationals deployed during 2014 and 2015 as United Nations Volunteers under the HRD Program which is a joint partnership among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center and UNV, funded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Be a UN Youth Volunteer, be inspiration in action
Volunteerism is one of the most vital delivery mechanisms for social, environmental and economic transformation, ensuring a lasting impact with its ability to change people’s mindsets, attitudes and behaviours. People become actors of change and equal partners in the attainment of local, national and international progress towards sustainable human development and global peace.
UN Youth Volunteers can make an impact by improving access to and delivery of basic services, especially primary health care, HIV/AIDS and basic education, and enhancing community resilience and capacities for disaster risk reduction and for the environment, including for instance, by supporting community adaptation to climate change. They contribute to peacebuilding through enhancing conflict resolution skills among children and youth and promoting community dialogues.
Ensuring appropriate information technology for the mission
As a technician, I am using my skills to improve the working conditions of my colleagues who are the ones providing assistance to the people in need. It is rewarding to know that I am helping the Congolese community in my own way.
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo . My name is David Bzhania and I work as a UN Volunteer network technician for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).
Inspiration in Action (brochure) (Arabic version)
UNV engages people at all levels in peace and sustainable development. We recognize the role of women as a driving force for progress and as promoters of societal transformation. UNV boosts global advocacy and partners to promote youth volunteerism, and launched a Youth Volunteering Strategy and a UNDP/UNV Youth Trust Fund in 2013.
UNV supports peace and sustainable human development around the globe through the promotion of volunteerism and mobilization of volunteers. It is active in 122 countries and has field units in more than 90 countries and a number of regional offices. Every year, UNV directly mobilizes almost 7,000 UN Volunteers to serve either in their own countries or abroad. These UN Volunteers contribute to the peace and development projects and initiatives of 36 United Nations system partners. About 82 per cent of UN Volunteers come from countries of the global South.
UN Volunteers at the forefront of gender-responsive peacebuilding
Data supports the existence of a significant nexus between gender mainstreaming, sustaining peace, and civic and volunteer engagement. This was the topic of discussion at a side event organized on 27 October 2016 by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN in New York.
The most meaningful experience in my life
Being a UN Volunteer was one of the most meaningful experiences in my life so far, and, being in my eighties, I think that holds some weight. In the early 1990s, having raised a family, already at the end of a successful business career, and well settled into retirement, the unexpected excitement and humility of reaching out to truly touch peoples’ lives showed me that life can always bring the unexpected.
Being a UN Volunteer was one of the most meaningful experiences in my life so far, and, being in my eighties, I think that holds some weight. In the early 1990s, having raised a family, already at the end of a successful business career, and well settled into retirement, the unexpected excitement and humility of reaching out to truly touch peoples’ lives showed me that life can always bring the unexpected.
At a gathering with leaders from UNHCR and business associates, I had a conversation that led me to UNV.
Upcoming: Women, Peace and Volunteerism: Partnerships for Sustaining Peace
In commemoration of the 16th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (S/RES/1325) and the recent adoption of the identical Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions on Sustaining Peace (S/RES/2282 and A/RES/70/262), UN Volunteers working on gender-responsive peacebuilding will be presenting their good practices.
Data supports the existence of an important nexus between gender mainstreaming, sustaining peace, and civic and volunteer engagement, which this side event attempts to explore further.
Upcoming: Women, Peace and Volunteerism: Partnerships for Sustaining Peace
In commemoration of the 16th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (S/RES/1325) and the recent adoption of the identical Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions on Sustaining Peace (S/RES/2282 and A/RES/70/262), UN Volunteers working on gender-responsive peacebuilding will be presenting their good practices.
Data supports the existence of an important nexus between gender mainstreaming, sustaining peace, and civic and volunteer engagement, which this side event attempts to explore further.
UNV Youth Volunteering Strategy 2014-2017
Volunteerism has an important role to play in harnessing the potential of young people. It is an important means of supporting young people in their diversity, whilst fostering their inclusion in global peace and sustainable human development processes.
Engaging young people through volunteerism has to be a two-way street: young people should benefit from their volunteering experience as much their host community. That is why, as you will read, this strategy emphasizes skills development, knowledge, and personal growth in our UN Youth Volunteers modality, while also compelling us to not only increase the quantity of volunteering opportunities available to young people globally, but also improve the quality of their volunteer experience.