Meet Indonesian UN Volunteers serving a global purpose

Driven by the desire to serve as global citizens, Astrini Simanjuntak, Denny Beryan Saputra and Annirrahmah stepped outside their comfort zones. They left their native country – Indonesia – to embark on volunteering journeys. Operating in different environments, they learned innovative approaches to addressing development challenges. Family nostalgia, serving in unstable security settings, having limited access to basic needs and other challenges did not deter the trio. Instead, it heightened their motivation to pursue their quest to promote peace and development, from Thailand to Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Scaling up education efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Born and raised in a small village in Northern Sumatera, Indonesia, Astrini Simanjuntak witnessed stark inequalities in her community in terms of access to basic services, particularly among women and girls. This pushed her to pursue a master’s degree in sociology, majoring in gender.