Celebrating International Volunteer Day 2023 in Guyana

IVD celebrates the value of volunteerism for advancing peace and sustainable development. 

More than a billion volunteers around the world act for solidarity and humanity for people and planet. In Guyana, under the UN Volunteers Programme (UNV), national and international UN Volunteers are supporting United Nations partners in critical work on sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality, migration, among other global issues. 

This year IVD’s theme: “If everyone did...” calls upon people to collectively act for overcoming community challenges. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana celebrated the day by gathering with like-minded organizations – UNICEF Volunteers, US Peace Corps, Rotary/Rotaract Clubs, Lions/Leos Clubs, the Guyana National Youth Council, the President’s Youth Advisory Council, and the Guyana Youth and Environment Network - all of whom recognize the importance of volunteerism to achieving our Global Goals for Sustainable Development.  

Nuala Lawlor, Country Coordinator for UNV in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean visited Georgetown to meet with lecturers, students, and senior administrative staff from the University of Guyana to raise awareness about UN Volunteers to encourage other Guyanese to have a professional full-time volunteer experience at the UN. She also conducted public outreach via interview on Guyana Today, a popular television morning show. 

“Becoming a UN Volunteer is an amazing way to take your education and experience and be part of the United Nations, giving back to the priorities of your community – on everything from food security to gender equality,” Ms. Lawlor commented.  

“In Guyana, UNVs provide tremendous support to the work of the UN System. They work in the city (Region 4) and in hinterland communities (Regions 1 and 7). Currently, there are UNVs working with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to support Guyana’s response to the Venezuelan migrant crisis, helping individuals, many of whom do not speak English, to access essential services including health care and education for their children. Volunteers are also supporting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to advance its economic, social, and sustainable development programming. UNVs help us to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable communities, meeting them where there are, ensuring that No One is Left Behind”, said Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator. 

National UNV, Joann Canterbury describes her volunteer experience as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. “Not only have I been able to give back to my community, but I have also gained valuable skills and formed lifelong friendships along the way. The sense of fulfillment I feel when I see the impact of my actions on others is indescribable,” she said. 

In his message to mark the occasion, Executive Coordinator for the global UNV Programme, Toily Kurbanov, stated: “I say to all volunteers around the globe: Thank you. For choosing to improve the world. For finding inspiration to act. For creating solutions. For keeping our hopes alive. And to the world our message is: Imagine what we could achieve if all joined in. And volunteered.” Volunteers dream not of lofty ambitions but of solutions to improve the lives of people around them.  

You can follow the social media campaign via @unv_rolac #IfEveryoneDid #IVD2023 

To discover more about how to become a UN Volunteer and the benefits it entails, such as monthly living allowance, medical coverage, annual leave, reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, among other, please visit: bit.ly/DecideToVolunteer.