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Photo: UNV Khandker, Medical Doctor in Trinidad and Tobago
WHO WE ARE The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the focal point for volunteerism in the United Nations system. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme and it has its headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
UNV is inspired by the conviction that volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and by the idea that everyone can contribute their time and energy towards peace and development. With partners, UNV advocates for volunteerism, integrates volunteerism into development planning and mobilizes volunteers.
Every year UNV mobilizes more than 7,500 volunteers for development projects and it operates online to connect development organizations with thousands of online volunteers worldwide. UNV volunteers are skilled professionals with an average age of 37 and 5-10 years of working experience. They work in more than 140 countries and 70% come from the South of the world, establishing the best example of transfer of knowledge from South to South countries.
Photo: The UNV family in Trinidad and Tobago
The UNV programme in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname is coordinated by the UNV Country Office Team in Port of Spain. All UNV volunteers in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname carry out their service by placing at the center of their everyday lives the spirit of humanity and solidarity that lays at the heart of the very concept of volunteerism.
As of September 2008, 70 International UNV volunteers serve in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, 44 men (62.7%) and 26 women (37.1%), from 20 different countries.The UNV Programme in Trinidad and Tobago is one of the largest programmes in the world.
WHAT WE DO
The first UNV volunteers arrived in the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago in 1988. Since then, over 166 UNV volunteers from all over the world have been assigned to this Caribbean country.
The UNV programme in Trinidad, Tobago and Suriname is implementing the UNV Results Framework for development effectiveness. The framework is based on the threefold UNV’s Business Model, which includes Advocacy, Integration and Mobilization of volunteers.
These three overlapping and interconnected operations are implemented through the following activities: - Policy support at the ministerial level; - Capacity building and institutional strengthening; - Fieldwork.
Photo: UNV Dr. Shahanna adn UNV Dr. Vallouri working in Health Centers all over Trinidad
UNV volunteers in Trinidad, Tobago and Suriname make substantial contributions in their various fields of expertise, working as medical doctors, engineers and architects, statisticians and planners. They come from various backgrounds and bring to their individual projects a wealth of expertise, diversity and neutrality. They especially improve access to services and service delivery and assist with capacity-building.
UNV volunteers assigned in Trinidad and Tobago work in UNDP projects and offer their technical expertise to the ministries of Health, Education, Local Government and the Tobago House of Assembly.
Photo: The team of UNV volunteers, engineers, working in Tobago
Most of the work of the UNV volunteers is carried out in the field and well beyond standard office hours. For instance, the Free Medical Camps are held voluntarily in different locations over Trinidad and Tobago every month. In such occasions, UNV medical doctors provide in their spare time free blood testing and a full health check-up to all patients in need. At the medical camps set up by UNV volunteers, as well as at the VCT (Voluntary testing centres), patients also receive free health education, counselling and HIV-Aids awareness and support.
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY
Every year, on 5 December, volunteers all over the world unite to celebrate together International Volunteer Day. In 2007, volunteers in Trinidad and Tobago joined hands to organise a Volunteer Fair the IVD was celebrated with the creation of a Trinidad and Tobago Volunteer Fair in coordination with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross, the Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women, the YMCA and the National Aids Coordination Committee. Photo: UNV volunteers Kumkum, Angela and Seyi IVD 2007
NEWS
Service, awe and wonder: Volunteering in Trinidad & Tobago 26 February 2008 - Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago: It has struck me in awe how the simple idea of being “Man for Others” from my small world in the eastern corridor of the Philippines, has brought me to the bigger stage where I can contribute as a UNV volunteer…
Money is not my business -- it’s saving
lives
11 February 2008 -
Port of Spain,
Trinidad & Tobago: The Sangre Grande hospital has become
the new home of Doctor Clement Onuoha, a UNV volunteer who believes
volunteering makes a difference in development…
Contradictions and surprises in Trinidad
and Tobago
UN Under-Secretary-General Melkert awards UNV volunteers in Trinidad and Tobago 20 December 2006 - Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago: Mr. Ad Melkert, UN Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), today awards UNDP Excellence Awards to outstanding UNV volunteers in Trinidad and Tobago for their commitment as ambassadors of volunteerism for development… Volunteers
can walk the walk too!
HOW TO VOLUNTEER For information on UNV in Trinidad, Tobago and Suriname please contact: Dr. Jens-Ulrich Poppen, UNV Programme Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN House, 3A Chancery Lane, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel: (001) (868) 623 7056 Ext. 223 E-mail: Jens.Ulrich.Poppen@undp.org.tt For information about volunteering and to apply online, please click here. For information about how to become an online volunteer and about UNV's Online Volunteering (OV) service click here. |
The UN and everyone of us who works for any UN entity, programme, fund, should really be motivated by an ethical imperative. This is what our oath of office says. We should never look upon our work as just a job, it should be a calling, and ideally, in that respect, all of us who are involved in the UN should be seen as volunteers in one way or another. Flavia Panseri, UNV Executive Coordinator
VOLUNTEER VOICES
“I decided to join the UNV Programme because I wanted to spend part of my life in helping and serving sick and poor people suffering from illness. Therefore, being a volunteer and especially a UNV is a noble deed, which provides us – the UNVs – with access to reach these underprivileged people who need care and help” – UNV Darisuren Chanrav, from Mongolia to Trinidad
"It is a worthwhile, wonderful experience to help the most vulnerable in the world. This call for service is in my very bones and I could not see myself not giving my time for this purpose" UNV Joanne, a national of Trinidad, who served with her husband Karl in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Liberia
“The UNV Programme, which is not a paid job, is a selfless service borne out of love, interest, burden and willingness to take a sacrifice to humanity’s betterment” - Robert Ugbekile, from Nigeria to Tobago
I decided to join the UNV Programme because Volunteerism is one of my favourite hobbies and I had been engaged in it since 1978 by contributing my service at a missionary hospital in my country –Myanmar– till this assignment in T&T- UNV Thomas Kaung Maung, from Myanmar to Trinidad
Five years ago when I was in the plane coming here my question was, ' What difference are you going to make?' I think I achieved that and despite what I went through at the start, I am a happy man for I feel I have made a difference. UNV David Musa, from Kenya to Trinidad
LINKS & RESOURCES
UNV Volunteer Brochure - Trinidad and Tobago UNV Annual Report 2007 UNV Global Statistics 2007 In FACT: United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme UNV: INSPIRATION in ACTION UNV in numbers UNV and Peacekeeping FAQs
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