"Our goal is to promote UN values and leadership among youngsters" said 23-years old Alfredo Mattos, Executive Director of the Argentine Organization for Youth (OAJNU) in Corrientes, a province of the north-eastern area in Argentina, about 600 miles from Buenos Aires. Alfredo was one of the 24 volunteers that during the last weekend of September, organized the third regional Model UN - OAJNU Corrientes, an initiative that brought together 450 students from 4 provinces in a 3-day simulation of four United Nations organs.

UNIC Buenos Aires´ Knowledge Management Assistant attended the opening ceremony and had a Q&A session with the students and Model UN organizers on the work of the UN and the UNIC. As he was unable to attend, the UNIC Director, David Smith, recorded a special video for the ceremony.

OAJNU has long-standing relationship with the UNIC that goes back to 1995 when the then Director encouraged a group of students to form an NGO to develop activities for young people in Argentina. Their commitment to Model UN simulations was extremely successful and a couple of years after their creation, OAJNU had opened branches in seven provinces. To date, they have organized over 100 Model UNs and mobilized about 39.000 high school and university students nation-wide.

The organization is based on the volunteer work of young women and men committed to the values of education and dialogue. "We are the only youth NGO in the region. We provide young people with an arena to actively participate in a number of debates concerning their rights and their communities´ welfare", Mattos explained.

For more information on OAJNU, please visit http://www.oajnu.org/

On 18 July. the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in New Dlehi and the UN Academic Impact Programme collaborated with youth group "Raindancer" to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday.

In a slum area of Mumbaiwhich, Raindancer adopted a financially-failing primary school on the brink of closing. They secured funds from friends and well-wishers to keep the school running for another year.

The aim is to make the school self-sustaining through regular Government and corporate funding. Raindancer will continue its stewardship by inviting mentors to work with the mostly underprivileged students in conducting classes on sports, yoga, music, art, craft and computer education.

UNIC used this collaboration to promote volunteerism among young people and to highlight the message of Internaional Nelson Mandela Day.

On 18 July, people around the world donated 67 minutes of their time to helping others in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday, symbolic of his 67 years of service to humanity.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra joined the High Commission of South Africa in Australia to volunteer at the St Benedicts Community Day Centre lunch in Queanbeyan, NSW. 

St Benedicts acts as a refuge for vulnerable people in the area and provides meals five days a week to an average of 50 people a day. 

The South African High Commissioner to Australia, Her Excellency Ms Koleka Mqulwana, spoke to UNIC Canberra about the importance of International Nelson Mandela Day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy. 

“This day allows you to understand his character and reminds South Africans that what he achieved was a collective effort that included the international community,” she said.

The Community Day Centre was decorated with Jerrabomberra Public School students’ artworks and posters about the life and work of Nelson Mandela. 

Year six student Harry English read a poem about Mandela as “one of the greatest leaders of all time” and 11 year old Rhea Laverock silenced the room with an awe-inspiring speech on racism “It’s just not funny.”

 The day ended with singing Happy Birthday to “Madiba”, complete with a birthday cake.

UNIC Canberra celebrates Nelson Mandela’s birthday every year by volunteering with the High Commission of South Africa at different community organizations to raise awareness for his work and legacy.