UNDP Syria

The power of image, the power of Volunteers: how International Volunteer Day becomes an extraordinary Day…

Life in Syria, as in many other developing countries, is full of images that catch ideas and express moments so well, and they haven’t been noticed or captured yet…and images can send such a powerful message….

That simple idea is what inspired the UNV Programme in Syria, to come up with the unique idea of celebrating Intentional Volunteer Day 2005 by organizing a photography workshop for female volunteers. The workshop aims to give the volunteers the capacity to support their work by creating special images which will strengthen the communications capacity of local organizations, as well provide a picture archive of development work in Syria.

In a world of increasing complexity, it is easy for people to believe that they cannot make a difference, and that any single or small action of an individual will not only go unnoticed, it will make little if any difference to the millions of people who find themselves in need. Fortunately, there are also people who are living proof that this is not always the case. Nashwa Abdulkarim is a UN Volunteer from Aleppo in Syria. She is a rural women’s specialist who works to empower communities in Syria’s Jabal Al Hoss, one of the poorest regions in Syria. In late November she will leave Syria and fly to Morocco where she will accept an award on behalf of a young woman who was a beneficiary of a UNDP project. “This woman took a microfinance loan and was transformed into an entrepreneur,” said Nashwa. “Now she has paid for her family’s education and housing.” This is one of the many success stories that were related at the first UNV Retreat and Training on gender that was held in Damascus from 23-25 November.

The awards for Online Volunteers of the Year are a worldwide effort of the UNV Programme to honor outstanding examples of commitment to human development.

The UNV Programme and its Online Volunteering (OV) service announced 10 winners, based on the winners' drive, creativity and enthusiasm in supporting the work of the United Nations, NGOs and other organizations in their efforts to attain sustainable human development.

An individual volunteer and, for the first time, a team of volunteers who actively worked with the UNV Programme in Syria were awarded with the "Online Volunteers of the Year" award for 2005 for the high quality of their services and commitment. Their professional contributions had in common a strong commitment to human rights and an interest in participating in a global network.