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.
Since the start of OV in March 2000, some 38,000 people have registered with the OV service. To date, online volunteers have engaged in more than 10,000 assignments with about 530 organizations from the North and South who work to eradicate extreme hunger, empower women, educate children, and reach towards the other objectives outlined within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The OV service provides an indispensable resource: the access to a world of skills and expertise.
The efforts of the Online Volunteers serve as an example of the power of volunteering for development.\
"The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others."
- DeAnn Hollis