"Passion is what drives us to serve refugees"

UN Volunteers in East and Southern Africa
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This is a story of two UN Volunteers who protect the rights of refugees in Uganda and Tanzania. Mariko Otake from Japan and Solomon Oseghale Momoh from Nigeria are with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Their passion for the refugee cause is what drives their motivation to do what they do.

Mariko Otake is a UN Volunteer Associate Protection Officer with UNHCR in Uganda. Her area of focus is the West Nile region — particularly Adjumani district, which is home to 19 refugee settlements and over 222,000 refugees.

Working closely with local government, partners, and refugee community leaders, Mariko makes sure the well-being of refugees is on top of the agenda.

She creates sustainable support systems within refugee communities by connecting local community members to refugee-led organizations.

UNEP UNV Young Talent Pipeline begins its second phase

UNV Regional Office in East and Southern Africa
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This joint partnership initiative between UNEP and UNV has a twin objective:

  • To deploy the second cohort of 13 young talented individuals in areas related to UNEP's mandate.
  • To seek candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

If you are 33 years of age or younger, check out the assignment opportunities. Women and individuals from marginalized groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Greening the graphics

UNV in the Arab States
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Online Volunteers with the United Nations Development Programme Accelerator Lab took on the task of coming up with graphics to promote sustainable development in Algeria and encourage a collective reflection on environmentally friendly entrepreneurial practices.

Online Volunteers showcased their graphic design skills and represented the goals of Algeria's Green Entrepreneurship Week.

Led by an Online Volunteer from Tunisia, Samher Abbessi, the Online Volunteering team with UNDP came up with promotional materials and presentations including a vibrant logo symbolizing sustainability and circular practices. 

Torchbearers of today, leaders of tomorrow

United Nations Volunteers
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Diana Assenova, Mehmet Onat Sarıtaş and Madinabonu Salaidinova have one thing in common — They are young volunteers who believe that progress cannot be made without youth. Let's hear from them in their own words.

“By investing in education, building the capacity of community members, and fostering global citizenship, young people play a crucial role in creating a better future that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable for generations to come.” The words of Diana Assenova, a UN Volunteer Education Assistant with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Kazakhstan resonate with the importance of youth and progress.

Refugee rights are human rights

UN Volunteers with UNHCR
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Three Refugee UN Volunteers with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) responded to the urgent and longer-term needs of Ukrainian refugees who fled when the war started in Ukraine.  

Olena Samoilova is a Ukrainian refugee who left her home with her family when the war started in February 2022. She found refuge in Hungary the following month.

Driven by empathy and sense of responsibility to support others, she volunteered at migration service centers shortly after she arrived in Hungary.

Executive Coordinator presents UNV 2023 results at the Executive Board

New York
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Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, Associate Administrator, 

The report before the Executive Board provides a high-level summary of UNV’s work in 2023.

While it strives to comprehensively cover our activities and the hard evidence of our results, it may still lack the vivid details of the daily realities.

Instilling hope through education

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Asfia Tarannoom is a UN Volunteer Education Officer with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Bangladesh. She supports quality education for Rohingya children and youth in Cox’s Bazar.  For Asfia, her assignment is part of UNICEF's humanitarian education response and makes a positive difference to thousands of learners living in harsh conditions in the camp. This is her story.

Asfia joined UNICEF Bangladesh in 2023. She brings a wealth of experience in early childhood education, play-based pedagogy, curriculum development, teachers’ professional development, and research.  

As an Education Officer, Asfia regularly monitors classrooms. She gives feedback to teachers on widening their skills, refining teaching techniques, and promoting a positive learning environment. All of this directly impacts academic performance.

UNV launches the first regional report on volunteering in Central Asia

New York
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The first regional Report of its kind – VCARE showcases the evolution of volunteering practices and the impact of volunteer efforts, emphasizes the value of volunteers' contributions, and identifies best practices in the region's volunteer movement.

The Report’s findings offer diverse examples of volunteer actions that can help to fast track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the region's five countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. 

Water is life

Vivianne Kiriinya, UN Volunteer Communications Specialist, UNEP
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My name is Vivianne Kiriinya. I am a UN Volunteer Communications Specialist with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since May 2024. I am based in my home country, Kenya and I serve with the Early Warning and Assessment Division under the World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA). These are some of my reflections.

We need water to survive.

Just as much as we need air, sunlight and food. 

As a Communications Specialist, my main task is to ensure that the work of WWQA is given the attention it deserves. In addition, I raise awareness of clean drinking water in communities. 

How do I do that?

Through creative outreach — success stories, social media, the corporate website, and more.

Water is a basic human right and everyone needs to be part of the conversation.

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