KATHMANDU: With the theme “volunteering for our planet”, International Volunteers' Day was observed today across the country with much fanfare.

On the occasion, United Youth, along with two-dozen international organisations organised a programme at Shanti Batika in Ratna Park, where participants urged to press the government for tabling clear agendas on climate change meet slated to begin in Copenhagen on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Prem Bahadur Kunwar, member of National Planning Commission, appealed to all to extend voluntary service at their own initiative for the conservation of nature.

Jagannath Adhikary, director of National Development Volunteer Service, informed that it was mobilising at least 5,500 volunteers nationwide for the purpose, for free.

Also on the occasion, the United Youth, which had carried out a signature campaign, handed over a sheet of paper carrying signatures collected elsewhere in the country to Kunwar on behalf of the Government of Nepal.

Representatives from over a dozen organisations, including the Untied Nations Volunteers, UNDP and UNMIN, United Youth, Association of Youth Organization Nepal, NDVS, National Youth Organisation Federation Nepal, took part in the progrmme.

Representatives from CCS Italy, CECI, JICA , KOIKA, SPW, FECOFUN, VSO, RUNVAN, ABHIYA Nepal, Partner Nepal, EDEN, Youth Action Nepal, DANAR Nepal, Inter college Nepal Bhasha Sahitya Pala, Yatra, VIN, HRELEC Nepal, also participated.