The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says it will give youth volunteers opportunity to work with the UN in the area of social transformation in 2014.
The Administrator of the UNDP, Ms Helen Clark, said this at a programme to mark the International Volunteer Day in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the 2013 International Volunteer Day is “Youth Volunteering for a Better World’’.
Represented by Mr Bernardo Cocco, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, Musa said the organisation would partner with the UN Volunteers (UNV) in transformation works.
“Volunteers, including many young women and men, already play a vital role in UNDP projects and programmes around the world.
“Volunteer health workers, teachers, climate change adaptation specialists, relief workers, among others; joined staff on the frontline of UNDP’s efforts in 127 countries.
“UN volunteers supported a peaceful electoral process in Kenya through a youth participation project called Get Informed, Get Involved.
“Implemented by Youth Agenda with support from UNV and UNDP and our Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund, the project encouraged youths to participate in the political process,’’ she said.
She said UNDP and UNV jointly launched the first dedicated trust fund to boost youth volunteerism, and to harness the energy of young people around the world in 2013.
According to her, the project will achieve development goals and also assist in enhancing their lives.
The administrator said the current generation of youths was the largest in human history.
“More than 80 per cent of the world’s youths live in developing countries where they are increasingly asserting their role in tackling global challenges and acting as transformational agents through volunteering,’’ she said.
The UN Secretary-General, Ban ki-moon, in a statement, said there were more than 1.2 billion youths, with incredible potential to tackle challenges and acts as agents of change.
Ban said when young people volunteered, they were provided with opportunity for valuable life and job skills.
He also said the act would strengthen their capacity to lead and become engaged in their communities and global society.
“I am especially grateful to the nearly 1,000 young volunteers who are supporting the work of the United Nations for peace, sustainable development and human rights.
“UN volunteers work alongside UN staff to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable populations in the world.
“They will continue to play a key role in accelerating our work for the Millennium Development Goals, combating climate change and shaping and implementing the post-2015 development agenda,’’ he said.
According to him, volunteerism is a two-way street.
He said that even as volunteers help generate positive change for others; their own lives were often transformed by act of volunteering itself.
The UN chief, however, called for a renewed commitment to volunteerism across the globe.
“Let us renew our commitment to offering young people diverse and meaningful volunteers opportunities to become active and confident contributors to global change,’’ he said.
