Placing youth at the center of development efforts in Benin and Burkina Faso

United Nations Volunteers
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Helwise Boya, Wendpanga Nicolas Djiguemde, and Ahmadou Youssoufou Abdoul-Razak are UN Volunteers in Benin and Burkina Faso. They serve with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this story, we look at the support they provide to the development efforts in West and Central Africa.

“Empowering young people with digital skills can transform their future and lead to gender equality,” says Helwise Boya, UN Volunteer Innovation and Technology Officer with UNFPA in Benin. She is passionate about making a positive change through volunteering. Helwise supports the #Tech4Girls project, which has imparted digital and entrepreneurial skills to over 200 girls, opening new career paths and boosting their confidence.

Louise Chamberlain appointed as UNV Deputy Executive Coordinator

United Nations Volunteers, Bonn
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Louise brings more than 20 years’ experience of leadership in multilateral development cooperation combined with deep knowledge and passion for low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive economic development, human rights, elections, and local governance, as well as digitalization. She currently works as the Senior Regional Advisor on Green Transformation at the United Nations Development Programme Istanbul Regional Hub and served as UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic from 2019-2023.

Supporting the voice of youth in decision-making

United Nations Volunteers
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Faris Bečić, a UN Volunteer Youth Associate served with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Based in Centar Sarajevo, a municipality of the main city, he helped create new opportunities for the education and employment of young people. This is his story.
 

Faris's volunteer assignment centered on the Regional Programme for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2). The project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNDP is aimed at supporting participatory democracies and EU integration in six countries in the Western Balkans — Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of them. 

How volunteers can break down the ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality in aid

Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator, UNV
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When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. — Confucius

 

This World Humanitarian Day two messages will resonate strongly leading up to and during the day: humanitarians are not a target, and aid needs to be “decolonized.” While these themes highlight the perilous and dramatic environment for current humanitarian work, the first is unequivocally clear, whereas the second is loaded with meaning that needs to be unpacked to frame the problem accurately — and start solving it.  

The call for “decolonizing aid” divides the humanitarian world into those who provide assistance on quasi-colonial terms and the aid recipients, on whom the terms of this aid are imposed, reinforcing dependency, and making the whole system self-serving. The proposed solution is to remove layers of intermediaries before aid reaches the intended recipients and/or change the composition of that layer from foreign to local groups.

Protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Morocco

United Nations Volunteers
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Desiree Gertrude Etobe and Margaux Gruaz are UN Volunteers with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Morocco. Belonging to opposite parts of the world, Cameroon and Switzerland, what ties them together is volunteering to protect the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers following the devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Morocco.

“It was stressful as I was far from my family, and we didn't know how intense the aftershocks were going to be,” recounts Cameroonian, Desiree Gertrude Etobe, an Associate Protection Officer on the challenges encountered on both personal and professional levels due to the earthquake. Professionally, rapid response was crucial.

Digital natives call to end the digital divide

United Nations Volunteers
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International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August. This year's theme — From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development underpins the importance of investing in digital innovation. From Lebanon, Libya and Saudi Arabia, here's a look at three UN Volunteers, we call them digital natives — who demonstrate the power of youth while amplifying the need to enhance digital inclusion.

Nesrine Kammourieh is a Digital Communications Associate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Lebanon. She manages the organization's social media accounts, creates impactful content and manages the digital campaigns. She also monitors the performance of various digital platforms. 

Changing perceptions of persons with disabilities in Cote d'Ivoire

United Nations Volunteers
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Adam Sacko, Celestine Amoin Kouakou, Georges Kpadenou, and Vincent Bohouo have one thing in common — all four of them serve as UN Volunteers in Côte d'Ivoire. They are volunteers with disabilities who make the United Nations system more inclusive — we call them the heartbeat of the UN. This story gives a glimpse into how they are changing perceptions of persons with disabilities while adding value to the development context of their home country.

Together with UN Women, three of these UN Volunteers serve in tasks related to administration, finance and programme support. Adam creates a detailed database of partners, including embassies, NGOs, and government authorities, and through this, she tracks projects and improves their visibility. Some of these projects advocate for gender equality, combatting discrimination and standing up for inclusion. Celestine finds employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Youth volunteers push for nature-based solutions

United Nations Volunteers
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The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) initiated the Young Talent Pipeline, bringing together youth from around the world to create impactful environmental solutions. The first phase of this initiative was launched in 2023 through which young people between the ages of 27 and 33 years got opportunities to delve deep into environmental projects. UN Volunteers — Chawanagwa Nyirenda, Luis Pineda and Samantha Dalvalos were part of the first cohort and have just ended their volunteer assignments. Let's hear from them.

Chawanagwa Nyirenda's grassroots experience with 14 communities in Malawi on climate change adaptation led him to the Young Talent Pipeline.

Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Madagascar

United Nations Volunteers
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In a small hospital in Ambovombe, South Madagascar, I am a gynecologist and obstetrician supporting the health needs of the local population. In doing so, I face ups and downs but my motivation to volunteer is not hampered by challenges abound. I am a UN Volunteer Reproductive Health Expert with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and this is my story.

My name is Sadoscar Hakizimana. I am from Burundi.

I am a medical doctor by profession.

I started my volunteer assignment roughly two years ago — in August 2022.

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