"Inclusion isn't about awareness, it's about visibility. We need to be seen"

Sushil Adhikari, UN Volunteer Disability Inclusion and Engagement Officer with UNICEF ROSA
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Many people are unaware of the realities of disabilities—not out of unwillingness, but simply due to a lack of exposure to these realities. This is true for the United Nations system as well. However, I found a genuine eagerness to learn and embrace new ideas in colleagues. This made me reflect on how change must begin within institutions before it can extend outward. At the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), where I currently serve, progress starts with diversity. I brought elements of my activism into the organization, ensuring that inclusion is not just a policy but a lived experience for everyone around.

Under UNICEF’s Adolescent Participation, Skills, and Employability Section, I oversee disability inclusion efforts such as staff awareness programmes and accessibility audits on reporting. I use simple and practical techniques such as pair walk events to highlight accessibility challenges and the need for more inclusive spaces under UNICEF's Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy.

Working in systems that weren't built for women in mind

United Nations Volunteers
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Karima Amadi is a UN Volunteer Support Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). A native of Afghanistan, she has worked in human resources, administration, and programme management in various United Nations agencies. For Karima, working in systems that weren’t built for women in mind is nothing new. And this experience has made her a staunch supporter of inclusion, especially regarding gender in peacekeeping roles.


“My UN Volunteer assignment gives me a platform to promote inclusion," Karima says. “In spaces where women’s perspectives are often overlooked, I have tried to make sure they are part of the decision-making process.”

Karima grew up seeing very structured gender roles. What women can and cannot do, and the limitations placed on them. Entering the workforce and later supporting international development, she saw the same trajectory where leadership roles were quite often dominated by men.

UN Volunteer in Gaza recounts as the ceasefire ends

United Nations Volunteers
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After enduring 15 months of relentless violence, devastation, and loss of life, the people of the Gaza Strip finally saw a glimmer of hope with the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19, 2025. Among those returning to the remnants of their homes in northern Gaza were UN Volunteer Asmaa Ma'rouf and her children. Asmaa documented her journey back home, sharing her reflections along the way. The ceasefire was still in effect at that time.

"After months of uncertainty, of longing for home, today is the day I return. This journey has been filled with challenges, resilience, and hope. Each step back home brings a flood of memories—some painful, some warm.

Displacement is more than just leaving a place; it’s leaving behind a part of yourself. The streets feel familiar yet different, carrying the weight of what was lost and the promise of what can be rebuilt.

"Let's commit to peaceful communities in Madagascar"

United Nations Volunteers
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In 2024, the United Nations in Madagascar initiated one of its most ambitious volunteer recruitment drives, enlisting 32 UN Volunteers to promote peacebuilding and social cohesion within their communities. All volunteers were Malagasy nationals. Among them—five UN Volunteer Specialists in Social and Behaviour Change and 24 UN Community Volunteers collaborated with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and three university students served as UN Volunteers with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Despite their diverse roles, all 32 shared a common goal: they were animators ready to drive positive change from the ground up.

Youth, which represents the majority of Madagascar's population, is both a challenge and an opportunity for peacebuilding amidst social, economic, and cultural tensions.

Promoting gender equality through technology

United Nations Volunteers
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International Women's Day is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on UN Volunteers around the globe who serve in gender equality. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 139 UN Volunteers focus on Sustainable Development Goal 5. Noemi Mamani is one of them. She is a Digital Innovation Specialist for Gender Equality Programmes with UN Women in Bolivia. Her message—"We must build the path towards gender equality, and what better way than through tech innovation!"

Noemi started volunteering at a very young age. At 14, she was already raising awareness of gender equality. “The personal reward of seeing change in people has always driven me,” says Noemi, an economist now. 

Inspiring change in Iraq, one girl at a time

United Nations Volunteers
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In the lead up to International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on UN Volunteers around the globe who contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 5—gender equality. Among them are volunteers with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) supporting girls and young women across Iraq with new skills and opportunities. These volunteers serve under a common goal—opening doors for the next generation so girls have the tools and confidence to succeed.

Seven of the nine UN Volunteers who serve with UNICEF in Iraq are women. Their roles include Communications, Human Resources, Resource Mobilization, and Youth Engagement. Four of these women are part of Young Arab Women Talents initiative. Started in 2022, this partnership between UNICEF and UNV creates leadership opportunities for young women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

We are all part of the same global family—a blog from Iran

Golazin Hemmaty, UN Volunteer Media and Communication Officer with UNICEF
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“Human beings are members of a whole.” Words of the Persian poet, Saʿdī Shīrāz, perfectly frame what I believe volunteering truly is. We are all part of the global family, and by helping each other, we make our communities stronger and more resilient. I am Golazin Hemmaty, UN Volunteer with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Iran, and I believe there is no action too small to make a difference. The only important thing is our collective efforts for a better future for everyone, everywhere.

I remember the day vividly—my father had just returned from one of his work trips. As he unpacked his bag, he handed me a small, suitcase-like package. My eyes lit up; I loved puzzles, but this one was different. It wasn’t the usual puzzle with Disney princesses or cartoon characters I was used to. Instead, it was made of 20 cubes, each face contributing to six unique puzzles.

Expertise knows no gender—a volunteer's message

United Nations Volunteers
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Wankumbu Sikombe is a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zambia. As an architect, her work takes her deep into the Kazungula District in Southern Province, where she serves as a Resident Site Engineer for the Strengthening Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods in Agro-ecological Regions (SCRALA) project. On International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on Wankumbu and her message—expertise knows no gender.

In a remote village in Zambia, I am not just building infrastructure, I am building resilience, relationships, and respect.

Every day, I wake up to lush landscapes, fresh air, and the voices of a community that, at first, was unsure about my presence.

For me, volunteerism is all about authenticity, excellence, and integrity. It means embracing the environment I find myself in, accepting the reality of working in communities, and finding purpose beyond my comfort zone.

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