On 5 December 2016, to commemorate International Volunteers Day, UNAMID peacekeepers joined United Nations volunteers across Darfur in a series of activities aimed at supporting local communities.

Working under the theme “Global Applause – give volunteers a hand,” UNAMID's national and  international volunteers, in collaboration with other Mission personnel, distributed supplies to various schools and held clean-up campaigns in the camps for the internally displaced.

In El Daein, East Darfur, 600 students of Al-Madina Al-Munawara Basic School for Girls, most of whom are orphans and deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in Darfur, received school bags, exercise books, pencils, among other items.

Ambassador William John Joof, a United Nations volunteer (UNV) based in El Daein encouraged the students to focus on their studies so that they can contribute meaningfully to peace, stability and development in Sudan.

He urged them to look up to the national UNVs as role models and believe that, despite the challenges they face,  nothing is impossible for them to achieve.

Also speaking at the event, Halima Ibrahim, the headmistress of the school thanked the UNVs for their timely intervention on behalf of the students, whom she noted  “desperately need assistance.” She expressed hope that the students would benefit from continued support and mentorship by UNAMID personnel.

Ms. Ibrahim also used the occasion to encourage students to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits.

In a separate exercise, UNAMID peacekeepers handed over stationery sets, exercise books, blackboards, chairs and tables to the basic school in Gid Haboob village, some eight kilometers east of Nyala, South Darfur.

Similar clean-up campaigns were organized at the Al Salam IDP camp in El Fasher, North Darfur, and the Hissahisa Camp, Zalingei, Central Darfur; the Mission's  civilian, military and police personnel came together to participate in all such campaigns.

International Volunteers Day was designated by the United Nations in 1985 to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers, and volunteer organizations, to raise awareness of, and gain recognition for, the contribution they make to their communities.