Promoting Volunteerism for Peace and Development

DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT . 29encourage local people to respond tocommunity needs through voluntary action(e.g., caring for the ill or wounded,providing informal education, replantingcrops, etc.) and support their self-reliantefforts to help their community recover.After Typhoon Durian caused massivedamages in the Philippines in 2006,Bishnu Timilsina, a UN Volunteer fromNepal serving with UNICEFPhilippines as Water and SanitationOfficer, volunteered to supportemergency relief efforts in the Bicolregion. He conducted a rapid needsassessment and then providedtechnical assistance to localgovernments and communities tomaintain WatSan facilities inevacuation centres, relocation sitesand affected communities. Hemotivated and assisted local people toconstruct nearly 1,000 toilets in theaffected region with logisticalassistance from UNICEF. He alsopromoted sanitation and hygienepractices in schools and evacuationcentres. All of these volunteer activitieswere above and beyond his UNVassignment with UNICEF Philippines.Assignments with United Nationspeacekeeping, peace-building, politicaland electoral missionsWithin a peacekeeping, peace-building orpolitical mission, or the fast-pacedenvironment of an electoral operation,both the security situation and tight workdeadlines can make it difficult to do muchmore than carry out your specific technicalassignment. However, in addition tosharing your knowledge and skills withcolleagues in your regular workingenvironment, you may be able to findways to interact with local NGOs andcommunity-based activities within oralongside your assignment. Someexamples of areas where this could beparticularly feasible include:■ Electoral activities – especially civiceducation or voter sensitizationactivities;■ Disarmament, Demobilization andReintegration (DDR) – the reintegrationstage in particular lends itself tovolunteerism opportunities since formercombatants are being reconnected bothsocially and economically with theirhome communities (volunteer activitiescould include joint sports or theatreactivities, among many otherpossibilities);