The “Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future” project is happy to announce its first Youth Volunteering Award. We are looking for inspiring and life-changing stories of young volunteers from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen, to recognize the importance of volunteering for development. If you: - Are 18 to 29 years old; - Are from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia or Yemen; - Have a demonstrated track record in volunteering for development, with a story to tell that will make an impact.

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day 2013, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme launched a report gathering findings, perceptions and recommendations on youth volunteerism in Arab states, as part of its regional project, Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future. The report is the product of twelve months of field work, focus groups, questionnaires, desk reviews and national workshops carried out in 2012 in each of the project’s target countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen.

On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has launched a report gathering findings, perceptions and recommendations on youth volunteerism in Arab states, as part of its regional project, Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future. The report is the fruit of twelve months of field work, focus groups, questionnaires, desk reviews and national workshops carried out in 2012 in each of the project’s target countries: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and the Governments of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen are working on a regional project to facilitate youth volunteerism for positive and sustainable social change. Formalized during the project's first board meeting in Amman in April 2013,  ‘Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future’ is currently being implemented in the five countries, following a year-long process of national consultations with youth in the region. The regional project aims to harness the power of youth and their energy through volunteerism.

On Saturday 23 February 2013, hundreds of youth flocked from all parts of Egypt to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) organized by UNV Egypt, in cooperation with several UN agencies, government entities, private sector, and national and international NGOs.  The theme used for IVD 2012 in Egypt was “3afer” – the 3 represents the Arabic guttural letter ?a, and the word is pronounced ?aafer.  The word “3afer” in the Egyptian connotation implies persistence and hard work.  

As the world marks International Women's Day, United Nations agencies based in the Middle East and North Africa call on governments in the region to implement the commitments they have made to gender equality and to ending violence against women and girls.

Egypt was the first country in the region to sign today a project agreement with the United Nations (UN) to expand opportunities for Egyptian youth in the area of volunteerism.  H.E. Dr Ossama Yassin, Minister of State for Youth, signed the agreement in the presence of UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Ms Anita Nirody, and discussed ongoing UN activities in support of youth development, in a ceremony at the Civic Education Centre in Cairo.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme formed a groundbreaking partnership with the Arab Federation for Voluntary Activities (AFVA) under the patronage of the League of Arab States (LAS). UNV Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri, and Secretary General of AFVA, Mr. Yousef Al Kazim, signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) at AFVA’s eighth annual conference, held at the LAS premises.

In Egypt, Dalia has been working as a national UN Volunteer supporting UNICEF in their Communication for Development (C4D) Section.During the past two years, she has been involved in initiating behavioural change responses, such as promoting healthy living, hygienic practices, and nutrition. She has also participated in emergency responses, including the H1N1 influenza pandemic and provided help to displaced children and families on the Egyptian-Libyan borders in the wake of the Libyan revolution.

As an Education Specialist assigned to UNICEF Egypt, UN Volunteer Samar Wahba spends her days in the Upper Egypt governorates of Assiut, Sohag, and Qena.  There, she monitors and evaluates an early childhood development project designed to increase the kindergarten and school enrollment of four- to six-year-olds by improving the quality of education in these poor areas. The project began in 2007 and includes among its partners Egypt’s Ministries of Education and Social Solidarity, research institutes, the private sector and UNICEF in Upper Egypt.