Being a United Nations Volunteer enhances individual values
We have a problem, i.e. the level of youth unemployment. In other words, young people, above all, have a problem. Some of them may despair because they have no idea what the future will bring. However, there are ways of not wasting time and using it in your favour: dedicating some time to volunteerism. Whoever can add volunteerism with a non-profit organisation to their CV will have better chances of finding a job than people who do nothing while they are unemployed. Seeking solace in partying is not a good solution.
A very interesting option is to become a United Nations Volunteer (UNV). The UNV programme is managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to the UNV website: “Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN Volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.”
You can be a volunteer in situ in a developing country or in an NGO, or from your home by registering as a UN On-line Volunteer. On-line volunteerism can be performed via an organisation or individually. This latter type of Volunteerism has the advantage that you can combine volunteerism with your work or while you are looking for a job, and you can choose between several options that best fit your knowledge, experience and skills. You stay “fit” professionally and at the same time you will have the satisfaction of being useful to people who need you. One condition: you must speak English and/or French; but speaking and practicing languages are highly recommended skills to add to your CV.
UNV regularly publishes a newsletter for organisations and for volunteers.
The latest newsletter, May-June 2015, announced that the UNV programme had published the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, 2015 on June 5. It is 136 pages long.
It says that “it is the first global review of the power of volunteer voices to help improve the way people are governed. Drawing on evidence from countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Lebanon and Bangladesh, the UN report shows how ordinary people are volunteering their time, energies and skills to improve the way they are governed and engaged at local, national and global levels”.
What does it mean to be a United Nations Volunteer? The UN says:
“Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation”.
“UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.”
“Volunteerism at the local level builds capacity of people. National governments creating greater space for volunteerism bring social inclusion. Global volunteer networks promote voice, participation, accountability and responsiveness. Volunteerism will be valuable for drawing in resources for the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.”
Look into it. Being or having been a United Nations Volunteer will not look bad at all on your CV.
