On International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on the contributions of UN Volunteers around the globe. From grassroots-level support to community initiatives, volunteers are paving the way for an equal and sustainable future for women and girls. Here the voice of Evelyn Okach from Kenya underlines how volunteering promotes gender equality. "My role at UN Women centers on ending violence against women and girls, and it has brought me face-to-face with survivors; women who refuse to be defined by their suffering." Let's hear more about Evelyn's volunteer assignment.
I never imagined how deeply volunteering could change my life. Like many, I once thought of it as something purely humanitarian, offering a helping hand in times of crisis and bringing relief to those in need. But stepping into the world of gender advocacy and women’s empowerment through UN Women has redefined what it means to be a volunteer.
Volunteering isn’t just about giving; it’s about transforming lives; including your own. Carrying the weight of stories that have long been silenced. It means walking into communities where women have endured gender-based violence, yet still stand with resilience, ready to reclaim their lives.
I remember meeting a group of women in Kisumu, many of whom had survived domestic abuse, sexual violence, and systemic oppression. Their strength was astounding. They had found their voices, built livelihoods, and broken free from cycles of violence.
These women are not victims, they are survivors. And leaders.
Working in gender equality is like being part of a movement—ensuring no woman walks alone in her fight for justice. Whether through organizing field missions, monitoring gender-based violence interventions, or working alongside community-based organizations—every action we take is another step toward equality.
As a woman in this field, I have encountered barriers, spoken and unspoken. The biggest? The assumption that gender advocacy is a soft issue. While coordinating policies, I have seen firsthand how decision-making tables are still predominantly male-dominated. Often, women’s rights are sidelined as secondary concerns, rather than being recognized as fundamental to peace, development, and economic progress.
But I have also witnessed change. Organizations like the Centre for Rights, Education and Awareness (CREAW) and the African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), which I’ve supported through my work, challenge patriarchal norms and educate men on gender equality. It’s powerful to sit with grassroots women leaders running for office, knowing they once felt excluded from politics.
Through advocacy, funding, and support, we support women to take their rightful place in leadership spaces—without apology.
To every young woman thinking about stepping into volunteerism, I want you to know that you don’t need to wait for permission. The world needs your voice now. Your work will matter, even if you don’t see the results immediately. Change is a ripple effect. One empowered woman empowers others, and the cycle continues.
Advocating for gender equality is not easy, but it is necessary. There will be resistance, but there will also be breakthroughs. I have found purpose, resilience, and an unshakable sense of solidarity in this work.
There’s one moment that stays with me, one that reminds me why I do this work.
At a recent gender-based violence forum in Kisumu, a survivor stood up and shared her story. She spoke of the election violence she had witnessed in 2007, the trauma her children had endured, and the fear that still haunted her home. Yet, despite the pain, she stood boldly before us, seeking solutions, demanding protection, and refusing to be silenced.
And that was a poignant moment. Because she was heard.
That’s why I keep showing up. Every woman deserves to be heard. Every survivor deserves justice. And every girl deserves a future free from violence.
Volunteering has made me realize that true fulfillment comes not from what you accumulate, but from what you give. And if I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would.