Karen Roberts, National Manager of Volunteering, says IHC is putting its focus on youth over the next year. She says young people with intellectual disabilities want to be like every other young person. In the meantime, though, all the work of its hundreds of volunteers is to be acknowledged with special events on 5 December, International Volunteer Day.

See also the New Zealand IVD blog: http://ivd2008.blogspot.com/

  Visit site

Youth Realities Network (YOUR-NET) is a non profit organization that works with communities and organizations in Ghana in the fields of community development, education and learning.  Visit site

Tiffany McCabe spent three weeks in Kenya as part of a volunteer trip with the not-for-profit organization Free the Children. The experience had such an impact on Tiffany and her group that they are continuing their involvement through a campaign called “Well Worth It”, dedicated to raising awareness and funds to have well systems implemented in developing nations, through the assistance of Free the Children.  Visit site

Tanzania Youth in Action is a volunteer-powered organization working to uplift the standard of living among the youth of Tanzania. It is committed to ensuring that community members, especially youth and children, lead decent lives and are not deprived of their rights to livelihoods.  Youth in Action advocates for the legal rights of youth and supports girls' and children's rights.  Visit site

Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell, who was recently appointed as British High Commissioner for Malawi, has thrown his full weight behind a drive to get Malawians in diaspora to volunteer back in their homeland.  Visit site

Young volunteers from the Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr are taking part in a community art project to improve their school garden by creating a colourful outdoor classroom. Six schools have been involved in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Curriculum for Excellence pilot project during the past academic year, with groups of over 280 young people positively contributing to improve their schools and wider community through projects in child care, sports coaching, community arts and conservation projects.  Visit site

A new breed of regional producers is emerging in the Caribbean, made up of entrepreneurial youth, either unemployed or under employed, with viable business ideas and a strong desire to see those ideas become income and wealth generating. Experienced entrepreneurs, professionals, business and community leaders volunteer their time and experience as business mentors to encourage and support these young business men and women in the region and beyond.  Visit site

This year's theme is 'Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action'. Climate change has already begun to devastate communities and deepen the effects of poverty and hunger, complicating the challenges that youth face. However, through volunteerism young people are increasingly adding their voices to the call for action on climate change.To find out what's going on in your part of the world, click here for the UN's International Youth Day 2008 site.  Visit site

FACE aims at increasing social, cultural, educational, and environmental actions in the rural and urban areas through the national and international exchange of youth. It is established in India with the support of several national and international volunteer, social, cultural and educational organizations involved in the field of national and international volunteer services.  Visit site

The Youth Rescue Outreach (TYRO), was formed to help youth to turn their challenges in opportunities, and to show them that by living wisely they can succeed in life.  The word TYRO also means young learner. Over the past year it has been organizing and conducting youth outreaches in Uganda.  Visit site