Fort Lauderdale, South Florida, USA: For nearly a year after Hurricane Charley destroyed their home in Orlando, Mary Romero and her family depended on the Salvation Army for most of their needs. Now, they are paying back by volunteering their time to the place they once called home.  Read article

Kinston, North Carolina, USA: Volunteering at a local nursing home at the age of 86 has helped Sammy Oliver to overcome the grief and depression after the death of his wife. His determination and tenderness in turn help the patients recover with a smile.  Read article

Cairo, Egypt: Many of Cairo’s citizens are confronting urban-related problems, e.g., poverty, lack of housing and sanitation facilities, and internal migration through volunteering. Below are three projects showing how volunteers, through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, contribute and mobilize fellow Cairenes in developing their 'triumphant city'.  Read article

Kaiserslautern, Germany: Teams of volunteers are making World Cup 2006 fans feel comfortable -- from handing out maps to giving advice on how to find a doctor to providing entertainment between matches. Picked out from thousands of applicants, volunteers were chosen for having multiple language skills and were trained to be culturally sensitivity.  Read article

It was the natural disaster that killed hundreds of thousands and devastated large parts of southern Asia. But the effects of the tsunami which struck on 26 December 2004 are still being felt especially by volunteers. Civilian police worker Emma Linney, for example, devoted five weeks to help orphans in southern Thailand recently. Shocked by the extent of damage and how much help is still needed, she has encouraged colleagues to donate money and vowed to continue volunteering.  Read article