First on the ground: when the tsunami stuck Southeast Asia
Boxing day 2004. 07:58:53 local time. Under the sea off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, the earth shakes with a magnitude of up to 9.3 on the Richter scale. A series of tsunami waves up to 30 meters high hits the shore, taking the lives of almost 230.000 people in 14 countries and leaving behind total devastation. Within 36 hours, UN Volunteers serving in South Asia were redeployed to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand to coordinate information, response and relief at local and national levels. Oliver Wittershagen shares his experience as a UNV Programme Officer coordinating the Tsunami response.
Most people remember where they were when the disaster struck. I was serving as UNV Programme Officer in Timor-Leste at the time, where hundreds of international UN Volunteers supported the nation-building efforts of the then-newest member of the United Nations family. On home leave celebrating Christmas with my family in Germany on that very day, I felt the urge to support the people in the affected areas.
Pursuing transformative solutions for rural communities
In Zimbabwe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is increasing access to quality health services through the installation of solar energy photovoltaic systems. Called Solar4Health, this initiative ensures constant and cost-effective access to electricity, while also mitigating the impact of climate change and advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals. UN Volunteer Munyaradzi Kanjera shares the rural experience he brings to this partnership.
When I reflect on my life, I realize that my upbringing in a rural area largely shaped my decision to become a UN Volunteer. Growing up in Guruve, a rural community north of Harare, Zimbabwe, gave me an excellent grounding in local issues and a true understanding of the poverty and social exclusion that people in under-served communities suffer. Although rural life was difficult, it had several redeeming qualities.
Mood Café in Nepal: a voluntary space to promote mental health and wellbeing
We mark World Mental Health Day 2021 under the theme: Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality. UN Volunteer Elvis Lundberg (Sweden) shares his story from Nepal, where he volunteers to ensure the mental wellbeing of others. Elvis is a Programme Officer for Disability-inclusive Development with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), working specifically on the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD).
I began my UN Volunteer assignment in December 2020, when we were facing the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic in numerous ways. Many were experiencing physical and mental challenges, yet there was not much space to discuss these.