UNV Volunteers

What is UNV's mission?
Volunteering brings benefits to both society at large and the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically as well as socially. It contributes to more cohesive societies by building trust and reciprocity among citizens. The United Nations Volunteers is the United Nations organization that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism, including the mobilization of volunteers. It serves the causes of peace and development through enhancing opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and embraces volunteer action in all its diversity. It values free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism.
 
MINURCAT-UNV Programme Today
The MINURCAT-UNV Programme began to be operational in January 2008. MINURCAT UNV volunteers, are working both in substantive functions areas such as Civil Affairs and Human Rights and in technical support areas (Logistics, Finance officers, Engineers and Information and Communication Technicians).
Over the past two years, the UNV volunteers assigned to MINURCAT have significantly contributed to:
• Facilitate the transfer of skills and knowledge in the areas of Transport, HIV/AIDS, Finance, Engineering, Public Information, MOVCON, Human Rights etc. 
• Promote volunteerism through the creation of a platform for community participation at the community levels
• Take a lead role in the mobilization of volunteers to undertake awareness programmes at national level
The UNV volunteers with MINURCAT represent more than 40 different nationalities and 70% originate from developing countries. Over the 80% of the total UNV Volunteers are working in technical sections. 
The female UNVs account for 30% of the total. The average age is 36 years.
 
Parners
The MINURCAT/UNV programme in Chad is working closely with the UNDP/UNV Programme, responsible to administer all UNV Volunteers working for UN Agencies across Chad. Together, we carry out common volunteer activities and promote the active role of volunteerism within the Chadian society.
  
Promotion of Volunteerism in Chad
 
UNV Newsletter
UNV Newsletter is a publication of UNV Support Office. It has started in January 2009. The newsletter captures the volunteers’ all in a day’s work. It encourages UNVs to share their work-related activities in terms of writing. UNV volunteers emphasizes the volunteers’ importance on their active participation in peace keeping operations and it also represent a forum open to other staff members to share their stories and experiences. In 2009 5 editions are expected to be out (4 of them already published and available).

International Volunteer Day
Over 400 participants from the students of Lycee d’Eboue in N’Djamena , UNV Volunteers -- MINURCAT & UNDP, UN cooperating agencies, member of the civil society in Chad and NGOs participated in programs marking the observance of International Volunteer Day held on 5th December 2008 under the theme “Environment and Youth”

 
Most Recent Accomplished Projects in 2009 and 2008
As part of our internal advocacy programme to promote the vital role of UNVs in the collective peace building efforts, the UNV Support Unit initiated beginning October 2008 several activities to give visibility and a voice to the work of UNVs in Chad.
  • Rehabilitation of the high School in Iriba (October 2009). The UNV Chad has started a rehabilitation of the High School of Iriba, the only high school in the whole department of Kobe in Eastern Chad;

  • Trees Plantation in Abeche (October-November 2009). In line with the 2009 theme of the year “Volunteering for our Planet”, UNV Volunteers will be involved in trees plantation in Abeche;
  • IVD 2009 (cleaning of the maternity ward at the Abeche’s Hospital). Further information on this will be posted as soon as possible;
  • Welfare Party for St. Valentine’s Day and Happy Hours (February- September 2009). These social events have been organized mainly to let new UNV volunteers know each others and to mingle with other sections staff;
  • Work to rehabilitate an orphanage located in the sub-urban area of Ndjamena (April, May and June 2009). UNV volunteers in Chad are spending their spare time helping marginalized communities. The houses of 30 families were destroyed during the February 2008 war between rebels and governmental forces and these families are now forced to live in small makeshift shelters. The majority of the community members are children and, in addition to the poor living conditions, many are malnourished and constantly ill from unsanitary living conditions;
  • The Volleyball Project (October 2009). Since March 2009, Mr. Monday Dania, UNV Transport Assistant together with a Chadian Coach have been training 30 youth (between 13 to 25 years) in Volley ball, in a suburban area in N’Djamena. Monday not only trained the youth on a regular basis but also organized competitive matches, provided jerseys for the players as well as refreshments during the matches and trophies for the winners;
  • Cleaning activity, in N’Djamena - Sabangali (October 2008)- ; The houses of 30 families were destroyed during the February 2008 war between rebels and governmental forces and these families are now forced to live in small makeshift shelters. The volunteers, working with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) have been distributing food, soap, mosquito nets, and organized a set of activities to teach the community some principles of personal and environmental hygiene;
  • The above mentioned IVD in N’djamena (December 2008). With the participation of civil society and the Government, UNV in Chad organized two events in N’Djamena to celebrate the 24th International Volunteer Day (IVD) and promote the spirit of volunteerism especially among youth, who represent almost half of the Chadian population.