London, UK: Raleigh International, the charity that runs challenge and adventure expeditions, is celebrating the efforts of its 30,000 volunteers on 5 December, International Volunteer Day.  Read article

BBC News online highlights people all over the world are taking part in a day of action to hold governments to a UN pledge, made seven years ago, to eradicate poverty by 2015. Organisers of the Stand Up Speak Out event, which started at 2100 GMT on Tuesday, are using everything from concerts to kite-flying events to draw attention to their demands. Some of those taking part from different corners of the planet explain here why the issue of reducing poverty is important to them, and how they will be playing their part.   Read article

Shanghai, China: The overwhelming response towards voluntary work among Shanghai youth, communities and all levels of society is one of the reasons why Shanghai can develop into a sustainable economy. For a population of 18 million, the city of Shanghai has more than a million volunteers. They are involved in all types of social work and many will be called into action at the Special Olympics World Summer Games starting next week and the 2010 World Expo.    Read article

In May 2007, CIVICUS organised its first ever Youth Assembly in Glasgow to engage youth on topics pertaining to Accountability to Future Generations. Along with four other South African youth delegates, Nthabeleng Kgamphe participated in the Youth Assembly with youth representing 90 countries around the world.  Read article

Beirut, Lebanon: Seventeen-year-old Shawky Amineddine first balked at the idea of volunteering. "I thought it was a waste of time, " he said. But after more than 280 hours of volunteering, he realized it opened a new world for him. Together with some friends, he formed "Volunteering with No Constraints" -- where young Lebanese under age 20, could volunteer regardless of their religious and political affiliations.   Read article

Some provinces in Canada are engaged in a social experiment -- requiring high school students to put in up to 40 hours volunteering in their communities in order to graduate. But experts are asking: What message are we sending teens if we are equating mandatory community service with volunteering? Volunteer or risk not graduating?  Read article

Sidon, Lebanon: For Abdel Razak and hundreds of other young volunteers, helping to pick up the pieces is their way to make a change for their country and provide a new generation with hope.   Read article

New Delhi, India: Through the Swechha-We for Change Foundation organization thousands of young Indian volunteers got involved environmental conservation work. Another NGO, SMILE, engage youth in influencing public opinion on issues such as sexual harrassment in public transport. Through these various forms of volunteering, the organizers witnessed how young volunteers were transformed -- from being the targets of change to become vehicles of change.  Read article

Udon Thani, Thailand: Watch out, the "Bird Flu Busters" are on their way.  These are children dressed as chickens marched through the streets of Thailand chanting slogans and waving banners bearing simple facts on how to prevent the spread of avian influenza.  Read article

Youth in Action is the new EU Programme in the field of youth, which will be implemented from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2013. The Programme is a key instrument in providing young people with opportunities for non-formal and informal learning with a European dimension, including volunteering abroad.  Read article