Freetown, 4th December 2009: Sierra Leoneans join thousands of volunteers from around the globe to celebrate "Volunteering for our Planet" in collaboration with Africell. Thousands of volunteers from around the world have registered more than 1 million hours of effort to tackle climate change and other environmental issues, as part of a campaign to promote International Volunteer Day (IVD) on the 5th of December.

Hundreds of volunteers from Sierra Leone take part in IVD activities, as they converge at the Family Kingdom roundabout to clean Lumley Beach (10 am), and unveil new rubbish bins to help keep the capital's beautiful beach clean, forever!
The theme for this year's International Volunteer Day (IVD) is "Volunteering for our Planet" and IVD highlights the positive impact volunteerism can have to create awareness of Climate Change in Sierra Leone, while encouraging others to volunteer for our Planet.

Tomorrow' s clean-up, and Saturdays city centre float parade and inauguration ceremony (British Council Hall, Freetown 10am- see programme activities attached), follow lively dramas, college debates in Bo, Makeni and Freetown as part of this year's International Volunteer Day (IVD) celebrations.

IVD offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions – at local, national and international levels- to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Volunteers like Kaleem in India, who is planting trees, and Fogaing in Cameroon, who is researching renewal energy are joining thousands of others from Sierra Leone and around the globe to take part in environmental activities.

Sierra Leone hosts several major activities during the week leading up to IVD, with a float parade and commemoration ceremony planned for the 5th of December. These events are taking place in collaboration and support from with Africell.

IVD was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the globe to celebrate this date.

Activities include:

• Radio and TV discussions on the topic "The role of volunteers in promoting sustainable environment and save our Planet".
• Drama performances in Freetown, Bo and Ø Makeni advocating for tree planting and discouraging deforestation as well as keeping the environment clean.
• College debates at Fourah Bay College, Ø Njala University- BO Campus , and Makeni Polytechnic on the topic: " Climate Change is a fact, and we as individuals can help mitigate it".
• Cleaning of Lumley Beach and installation of 20 dustbins donated and installed by Africell on Friday 4th December at 10.00 am.
• Saturday 5 December: Float Ø parade from Victoria Park to British Council Hall at 9.00 am. This will be followed by the official launch of the IVD celebrations at 10.00 am by heads of Volunteer Organizations, UNDP and the Government of Sierra Leone. Local volunteers will entertain the celebrants through drama and songs on " Volunteering for our Planet."

About International Volunteer Day: IVD was adopted by the United Nations General assembly in 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the globe to celebrate this date. IVD offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions at local, national and international levels to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

About UNV: is the United Nations volunteer's organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

Media Contacts:

Mr. Andrew Chishakwe, UNV/UNDP, telephone +232 76 909 801; + 232 88 909 801; e-mail: andrew.chishakwe@undp.org.

Mr. Victor Massaquoi, VSO, telephone; +232 76 477 250; e-mail; vmassaquoi@yahoo.com.

Mr. Alfred Navo; SPW; telephone, +232 76 661 366; e-mail; Alfred.navo@spw.org

Mr. Brima S. Kanu: NaCSA; telephone +232 33 502 100; e-mail- bskanu@yahoo.com

Jas Kaminski, Communication Office, telephone: + 232 78 663 177 e-mail - jas.kaminski@undp.org