Areas of cooperation include; creating an innovation and knowledge hub on volunteerism, enhancing research and evidence around volunteerism in the UAE, and encouraging UAE nationals to serve abroad as UN Volunteers for peace and development. The Agreement was signed by Jason Pronyk, UNV Regional Manager for Arab States, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, (on behalf of Olivier Adam, UNV Executive Coordinator) and Maytha Al Habsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation.

Last night, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme brought the achievements, commitment and energy of five young volunteers into the international spotlight through a unique partnership with MBC Hope, the corporate social responsibility arm of Middle-East broadcasting giant MBC Group.  The UNV/MBC Al Amal Youth Volunteering Award highlights the capacity of young volunteers in the Arab region to drive positive change in their communities. Moreover, it provides a platform for young people themselves to inspire each other and feel confident about their future.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) just concluded a two-year project, implemented jointly with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), to reduce the impact of market volatility, natural disasters or the financial crisis on thousands of vulnerable families in the poorest areas of Guatemala. This project helped smallholder farmers’ organizations to boost the quality and productivity of their maize crops, improve their traditional agricultural systems and strengthen their marketing capacity in order to achieve food and nutrition security in Guatemala.

As a UN Volunteer with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Guatemala, Ramiro Barriga, from Bolivia, is serving within the section working on discrimination and economic, social and cultural rights.

Christina Papadopoulou has been working with the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) in Guatemala since 2008. She is a UN Volunteer who has chosen “to serve society and promote ideals such as social justice and equality.” Christina is one of the nearly 8,000 UN Volunteers mobilized every year by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme.

Preparations for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2011 are well underway in Guatemala, where local volunteer involving organizations hope celebrations and commemorative activities will encourage volunteers and organizations to share the spirit of volunteering. The Guatemalan Centre for Volunteerism (Centro de Voluntariado Guatemalteco, CVG) invites all member organizations to express their support for IVD 2011 by actively supporting celebrations planned for 5 December 2011.

With Guatemala’s sizeable youth population, Julia Noethiger has been working as a UN Volunteer assisting UNICEF with advocacy efforts for adolescents. One of her goals is to strengthen youth capacity to enable political action. Since statistics on youth are scarce in Guatemala, Julia was involved in national workshops where she engaged with adolescents and discussed their issues: for example, she spoke with them about their problems, their dreams, and possible solutions to their concerns.

Volunteer members of youth and national networks are promoting dialogue with political candidates on human development, as one of the key activities for the months leading up to the elections to be held in September this year.