Celebration of International Volunteer Day

7 Dec 2009

Celebration of International Volunteer Day

Abéché -- The United Nations Volunteers of MINURCAT celebrated on 5 December 2009 their International Day in Abéché on the theme, "Volunteering for our Planet". Prominent among the participants were the highest local authorities, including the Governor and the Sultan of the Ouaddai region, the Prefect, and the Mayor of Abeche. The United Nations System was also represented at the highest level by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG), and the Resident Coordinator.

The DSRSG participated in a tree planting ceremony at a local high school, and delivered the message of the Secretary-General, underlining the importance of volunteers as agents for change, and honoring their service, while recalling the two volunteers who lost their lives in October 2009 in Afghanistan, following an attack. In addition, the Volunteers undertook a cleaning exercise at the local hospital, and organized a drawing contest on environmental issues between local schools.

The UNV Office worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Planning, the "Maison de la Culture", the Red Cross-Chad, the mobile telephone company, Zain, and several Abeche-based volunteer organizations. The UNVs estimate to 800 the number of participants to this week-end's celebration.