Today’s youth are the most educated generation ever – with more than 92.58 per cent of young men and 88.61 per cent of young women literate. However, youth still face difficulties in entering and remaining in the labour market, with young people three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Volunteering can be one of the solutions to address youth employability challenges. Reports show that volunteering can improve chances at a job by enhancing a person’s vocational and social skills.

Investing in education and youth volunteers creates a foundation for a better future for everyone. Globally, we are part of the largest generation of youth in human history. There are 1.8 billion young people worldwide, a third of them are volunteering. Youth literacy has in general increased in the last 65 years (from 42 percent in 1960 to 86 percent in 2015). Despite this improvement, there are still substantial challenges ahead. Engaging youth and making education relevant, equitable and inclusive is a key factor for the achievement of 2030 agenda.

In all crises, those in situations of vulnerability are inevitably the ones who suffer the most. In northern Brazil, this is true for Venezuelan migrants, facing the COVID-19 pandemic. UN Volunteers support these migrants, particularly those who are LGBT or who have suffered sexual or gender-based violence.

This is the third in a series of articles featured by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Sri Lanka, as part of celebrations marking International Volunteer Day 2020.

On International Volunteer Day (IVD), we recognized the valuable contributions of the many individuals in Papua New Guinea who dedicate their time and expertise to supporting our communities. This year, as we look back on the people who supported the COVID-19 response and secondary impacts of the pandemic, we thank the volunteers who have worked to strengthen the health and wellbeing of women across the country.

An innovative initiative to provide child-friendly information about COVID-19 was launched by UN Volunteer Rasa Pattikasemkul in Thailand, who recognized that children needed to know more about the dangers of the virus, while also having fun learning at home during the lockdown. On International Volunteer Day, marked annually on 5 December, Rasa Pattikasemkul talks about motivation, family loss and keeping children safe.

Three international UN Volunteers assisted six pregnant students to resume classes and attend the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). These UN Volunteers serve with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and are assigned to monitor the impact on human rights during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Liberia. 

 As the Coronavirus pandemic rages across the world, marginalized and disadvantaged people have become even more vulnerable. Emergencies like COVID-19 present unique challenges, hence vulnerable populations are more likely to experience increased hardship, due to lack of access to effective information, surveillance, early-warning systems and health services.

The journey is the destination – a saying never more important than when it comes to disability inclusion. On the journey to a more inclusive UNV programme, my observation as a Disability Inclusion Focal point is that it is a process – of small and large wins. Drawing conclusions from valuable lessons learnt, I can say that it has been both enriching and challenging at the same time, and in many ways. Importantly though, lots of new opportunities for persons with disabilities to volunteer and participate in peace and sustainable development have been created.