In 2022, Mount Kenya University funded three national UN University Volunteer assignments. Brenda Kemunto Onyancha, Jane Wamucii Ngure and Jeremiah Newton Otieno joined the teams of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP), respectively. The youth volunteers share the valuable experience they have gained in global development, and how their perspectives have changed through their assignments. 

Ana Paula Machinha and Ramos Cassimo are national UN Volunteers serving with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique. They share stories from their involvement in the humanitarian response, revealing efforts to counter the cost of the humanitarian crisis in the country. Ana Paula Machinha, national UN Volunteer Field Monitoring Assistant with WFP

With a wealth of knowledge and skills, Liudmyla always felt a calling to serve in places where help was most needed. Through her assignment, she strives to reduce waste and prevent the harmful effects of open waste burning, which causes air pollution and jeopardizes public health in Central, Eastern, Western Equatoria and Jonglei States.

One of the foundational data layers needed for the development of efficient approaches to solar energy expansion is information on solar mini-grid installations. These offer a sustainable and affordable solution to expand energy access, particularly in remote areas with high sun exposure. 

What inspired you to join UNMISS as a UN Volunteer? 

"Coming from an underprivileged background myself, I have always been passionate about helping communities like the one I grew up in when it comes to promoting local development and respect for human rights. Being a UN Volunteer has given me an opportunity to do so, and in a multicultural context to boot," the experienced advocate and community mobilizer says. 

Josua Amukwaya is a national UN Volunteer serving with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) as Strategic Information and Data for Development Officer for Persons with Disabilities. His assignment is funded by the Government of Sweden. Josua lost his eyesight at the age of 14 and moved from northern Namibia to Windhoek in 2007 to pursue education at a school for the visually impaired. He now holds a bachelor's degree in Lifelong Learning and Community Education.

The UN in Uganda collaborated with the Government and other partners in addressing the health emergency. During the outbreak, more than 20 national UN Volunteers were deployed to bolster the UN response to the crisis. The UN Volunteers were mainly hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and a government agency, the Kampala Capital Authority. Other UN Volunteers initially recruited to support the COVID-19 response were reassigned to the response.

Samuel Kimani started as a national UN Volunteer Youth Leadership Coordinator with the Youth Sounding Board in May 2022. As part of the board, he helped establish the youth marker, which offers tools for mainstreaming youth across programming. One of these is a scale that rates progress in building youth confidence and establishing inclusive spaces. In the past, youth mainstreaming was simply about ticking a box. Now, youth working groups conduct a thorough analysis of all initiatives.

Namuli Annet Christine, Data Management Officer, WHO Uganda Namuli is Public Health Specialist who was recruited as a national UN Volunteer Data Management Officer with WHO in Uganda. She has always been motivated to create positive health impact in communities, in areas of prevention, detection and response to public health emergencies, especially disease outbreaks like the recent Ebola virus. Becoming a UN Volunteer gave her that opportunity.