On 12 December 2015, youth volunteers carried out a clean-up campaign at Abu Shouk Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in El Fasher, North Darfur. The clean-up activities started early in the morning as participants from UNAMID and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in El Fasher joined hundreds of local youth volunteers from the Abu Shouk Youth Union and local nongovernmental organizations.

This community outreach activity was organized by UN Volunteers in partnership with UNAMID, UNDP, and the Abu Shouk Youth Union as part of Darfur environmental awareness activities associated with International Volunteer Day.  

The International Volunteer Day is mandated by the UN General Assembly and held annually on 5 December. This is a unique opportunity for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, share their values and promote their work. This year, critical contributions have been made by hundreds of millions of volunteers around the world, paying special tribute to volunteers in Sudan who are contributing to peace and development in Darfur and across the country. 

United Nations Volunteers, both in UNAMID and UNDP, play a central role in spearheading activities for International Volunteer Day in Sudan. The United Nations Volunteer program contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. They work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well-supported UN Volunteers into development programming. UN Volunteers also promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism.
 
Some 300 volunteers were mobilized from the Abu Shouk Youth Union, Al Nahda Organization for Peace and Development, and UNDP Youth Volunteers Rebuilding Darfur Project, along with UN Volunteers serving in UNAMID.

Working with strong dedication and volunteer spirit, the volunteers began their clean-up activities in the central area of the Abu Shouk and quickly moved to residential areas of the camp, swarming over the narrow dirt lanes to remove large volumes of refuse that lay in front of residents’ homes. UN Volunteers provided rakes, shovels and other tools while UNAMID provided garbage bags, gloves and masks. UNAMID garbage trucks were on hand to receive and remove hundreds of pounds of collected rubbish. The result of this clean-up campaign was a clean and tidy community environment that was very much appreciated by local residents. One objective of this activity was to serve as an example to local residents and encourage community members to maintain a clean living environment. 

The Abu Shouk Youth Union was an important partner in this activity and was well integrated into the planning process. The Union’s members gained valuable experience and enhanced their capacity to organize and carry out similar activities in the future. The cleaning tools and materials remained with the Abu Shouk Youth Union as a gift from UN Volunteers and UNAMID. It is intended that this IVD Clean-up activity will be the initial phase of a sustained program of volunteer service in the community. The Abu Shouk Youth Union reports that they have already scheduled their next clean up activity in a local cemetery.

As mid-afternoon approached, the volunteers returned to their homes to rest and have lunch with their families while the UN Volunteers proceeded back to their UN facility in a UNAMID convoy. 

The events of this day are an example of the power of volunteerism to bridge divisions and unite diverse community groups to work towards the common goals of peace, development and reconciliation.   

BY STUART MORAN, UNAMID UNV PROGRAMME MANAGER