The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Building a more diverse future through volunteering – Embracing the power of equity, diversity and participation
United Nations
UNV deploys UN Volunteers with diverse skills and backgrounds to UN entities, enriching workplaces and communities. In 2024, over 14,000 UN Volunteers from various countries contributed to advancing UN mandates and supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their collective efforts have made a positive impact worldwide—lifting people out of poverty, providing better healthcare services to those in need, and empowering women to play a more active role in their communities. At the event, UNV will showcase these positive outcomes to inspire Expo visitors to join the movement and volunteer together.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- #Diversity #inclusion #local community
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Not provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.05.19[Mon]
2025.05.31[Sat]
09:00 ～ 21:00
(Venue Open 09:00)
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- Venue
- Pavilion
- UN Pavilion
Programme details
*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
“Diversity and inclusion” are one of UNV's crucial themes that have been advocated to the UN and Member States since 2019. The Expo is a significant opportunity for UNV to highlight diversity and inclusion and highlight the contribution to inclusive societies and the UN in becoming a more inclusive workplace.
At the UN Pavillon's Immersive Theater, UNV will host a talk show where speakers with different backgrounds share their insights on how volunteering makes a difference in societies. UNV will invite a researcher in volunteering, a paralympic athlete, senior and young volunteers and ask them questions on how volunteers and their volunteering activities have changed them and their communities. In addition to the talk event, UNV will host a photo exhibition to display photos of various UN Volunteers. They are from different countries and have diverse skillsets.
Reports
【Reflection】
From 13 April to 13 October 2025, the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, opens its doors under the inspiring theme: “United for a Better Future.” Through immersive exhibits and interactive programmes, the Pavilion brings to life the UN’s mission to tackle global challenges and advance sustainable development.
Marking the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) hosted a two-week celebration from 19 to 31 May, titled: “Building a More Diverse Future Through Volunteering—Embracing the Power of Equity, Diversity and Participation.”
It featured a photo exhibition and a talk show on how volunteerism promotes inclusion, lifts communities, and builds a fairer, more connected world. Drawing nearly 2,000 visitors a day, the photo exhibition spotlighted UN Volunteers from across the globe who are advancing diversity and inclusion through their assignments. It offered a powerful glimpse into their stories and the mandate of UNV.
The talk show brought together five professionals from Japan’s entertainment, sports, and academic sectors to explore how volunteering transforms lives and communities. Hosted by a former UN Volunteer, the session blended professionalism with purpose. With Japanese sign-language interpretation throughout, Despite the bad weather on the day of the event, we welcomed over 100 participants both online and in person. Many people attended and most of the audience stayed from beginning to end. The panelists were also very friendly and engaging, and we were able to hear a lot of great discussions from various field experiences. In terms of attracting attendees, four students from Kwansei Gakuin University,
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
・The thematic evet during TICAD9.
TICAD stands for Tokyo International Conference on African Develop. The Government of Japan has been leading this conference since 1993, co-hosted by the UN, UNDP, the World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC). In 2023, Japan commemorated the 30th anniversary of TICAD, and showcased the advanced partnerships with Africanc countries and their achievements made with the nation. In 2022, TICAD was held in Tunis. This time TICAD9 will be held in Yokohama, Japan on 20th to 22nd August 2025. The Government of Japan set the goal is time as transforming the way of partnering with Africa through TICAD9, from providing Africa with financial and technical support to facilitating Africa’s ownership and localization. This is because more African countries achieved their economic growth in the last three decades and many of them could find a way to develop their countries on their own. To align with the Government of Japan’s aim, Japan will focus not only Japan’s priorities such as peacebuilding and human security, but innovation, private sector investment, and supporting young startups and human capital development as new TICAD scopes.
For this new focus on the Government of Japan to be enhanced, the UNV is going to host the thematic evet during TICAD9. For this new focus on the Government of Japan to be enhanced, the UNV is going to host the thematic evet during TICAD9.
This event is recognized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan as partner event related to “Promoting localization through volunteering in responding to crisis of Africa” as of 19th May.
Date and Time: 21th Augst from 14:00-15:30(JST).
Venue: Kahala Hotel Yokohama, Ball Room
The UN has continued supporting African countries and UN Volunteer served over 60 UN entities. Out of 133, nearly 60 Japanese volunteers engaged in various UNV assignments in Africa. Many of them are dedicated to the most demanded area which community development, business management, and economic finance. UNV has been collaborated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, JICA and other counterparts to deploy talented Japanese nationals to serve the UN for leaving no one behind. We will feature UN volunteer, so we invited from UN volunteer who are currently serving and served in community and economic resilience in Africa to present their activities. UNV will invite a Japanese expert specialized in agriculture currently serving UNDP Djibouti as speaker. Also will invite UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, a JICA volunteer serving Africa and entrepreneurs who connect Africa and Japan through their business.
At the same time, we will have an exhibition booth to display Japanese and non-Japanese UN Volunteers serving in Africa to showcase how diverse they are. Communication materials such as flyer, leaflets and video will be displayed at the booth as well.
Date and Time 20-22 August 2025
Venue: Pacifico Yokohama
Cast
Moderator
Yuri Okura
Former UN Volunteer and Project Researcher, the University of Tokyo Hospital Biodesign Department
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Speakers
Thanks.Inc
Ai Haruna
Talent ・Singer
Special Sponsor for Osaka EXPO 2025, Organize several volunteer activity such as Disaster area support, open cafetelia for children.
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OMRON Global
Yuji Togawa
Diversity and Inclusion Initiative group from OMRON Global
A track and field athlete competing in the T20 classification (for athletes with intellectual impairments).
At the Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships, earned a bronze medal (3rd place) in the T20/1500m event.
Later that year, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, placed 6th in the same event.
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FUJI Media Technology Inc.
Akemi Masuda
Sports Journalist, a Professor at the Osaka Univeristy of Arts
A retired athlete who ended their career in 1992, during which set 12 national and 2 world records, and is now a board member of the Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center.
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Peace Inclusion Piece
Chitose Namboku
Peace Inclusion Piece
The founder of world’s first international disability organization headquartered in Japan.
Thier goal is to promote inclusion, accessibility, and equal rights for people with disabilities on a global scale.
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University of Tsukuba
Masaya Ninomiya
Professor at the Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Specializing in community development, volunteerism, and nonprofit organizational studies. A member of the Volunteer Review Committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee.
His academic work focuses on the role of nonprofits in building inclusive communities, exploring how collaborative approaches can enhance the impact of volunteer initiatives and local development.
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Co-organiser
United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Building a more diverse future through volunteering – Embracing the power of equity, diversity and participation
UNV deploys UN Volunteers with diverse skills and backgrounds to UN entities, enriching workplaces and communities. In 2024, over 14,000 UN Volunteers from various countries contributed to advancing UN mandates and supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their collective efforts have made a positive impact worldwide—lifting people out of poverty, providing better healthcare services to those in need, and empowering women to play a more active role in their communities. At the event, UNV will showcase these positive outcomes to inspire Expo visitors to join the movement and volunteer together.
-
2025.05.19[Mon]
09:00～21:00
(Venue Open 09:00)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
