Rachel Ahmed Saadi is a UN Volunteer English Teacher with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Lebanon.

Peshawar, Pakistan: My name is Hina Yousafzai and I am from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in Pakistan. I am currently working as a UN Volunteer supporting the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Recovery Project carried out by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the capacity of Reporting & Monitoring Associate based in Peshawar. Since early childhood, my life has been driven by two factors: my love for knowledge instilled in me by my parents, and my efforts at being understood and appreciated.

A UNV-supported initiative in 2015 empowered young men and women from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) community in Kosovo to start their own social entrepreneurship initiatives and advocate for community needs as “Changemakers”. 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: I joined the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as a UN Volunteer one year after the devastating earthquake that struck the country in 2010. This tragic event motivated me to dedicate my time and experience to help restore a secure and stable environment in Haiti.

Ramallah, State of Palestine: "Adolescents can be powerful agents of change in communities," says Chizuru Iwata, an international UN Volunteer from Japan, who worked with UNICEF as a UNV Adolescent Participation Officer in the State of Palestine.

New Delhi, India: Miho Yoshikawa, an international UN Volunteer from Japan, was stationed in India with UNICEF. As a UNV Child Protection Officer in UNICEF’s Delhi office, she was responsible for programme monitoring, assistance to the organization’s state offices, documentation and research.

Makueni County, Kenya: Catherine Ngave, a national UN Volunteer in Kenya: I started volunteering at a young age in our community. We would volunteer to clean the market places and also fetch water for the elderly women in the village. I never knew it would lead to national volunteerism.

Last night, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme brought the achievements, commitment and energy of five young volunteers into the international spotlight through a unique partnership with MBC Hope, the corporate social responsibility arm of Middle-East broadcasting giant MBC Group.  The UNV/MBC Al Amal Youth Volunteering Award highlights the capacity of young volunteers in the Arab region to drive positive change in their communities. Moreover, it provides a platform for young people themselves to inspire each other and feel confident about their future.

Last night, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme brought the achievements, commitment and energy of five young volunteers into the international spotlight through a unique partnership with MBC Hope, the corporate social responsibility arm of Middle-East broadcasting giant MBC Group.  The UNV/MBC Al Amal Youth Volunteering Award highlights the capacity of young volunteers in the Arab region to drive positive change in their communities. Moreover, it provides a platform for young people themselves to inspire each other and feel confident about their future.