SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
My volunteering journey wasn’t a traditional one. I started as a journalist, chasing stories on the streets, driven by curiosity and the power of storytelling. But I wanted more than just reporting; I wanted to be part of the change. That’s when I found United Nations Volunteers. My first role was with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, where I worked as a Communications Officer highlighting peace and justice under Sustainable Development Goal 16.
03 March 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Areeg's volunteer journey is marked by significant personal and professional growth. A graduate of Khartoum University, she is currently based in Port Sudan. She provides essential support to WHO's priorities in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
02 March 2025
Arab States
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Since I was a child, I always knew that sports would have an important place in my life. Over the years, I realized that my calling went beyond just playing sports. I had a clear goal of combining my passion for sports with my commitment of gender equality. The challenge I was up against: The lack of opportunities to work on gender and sports in Ecuador. I was up for the challenge and started looking for opportunities.
01 March 2025
Latin America and the Caribbean
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Yağmur Söylemez, UN Volunteer from Türkiye navigated through her volunteering experience and shared, "Volunteering gave me the courage to confront inequalities head-on, raise my voice and inspire others to take action." She raised awareness on the structural barriers facing women in their daily lives.
28 February 2025
Europe and Central Asia
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
27 February 2025
West and Central Africa
Exposure story
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
My dream had always been to work in construction and pursue a career in electrical engineering. However, the accident forced me to reconsider my future.
Refusing to let my disability define me, I set small, achievable goals throughout my rehabilitation. While these accomplishments may seem minor to some, for someone like me, living with a disability, they were monumental.
Each success strengthened my determination to embrace life with my new prosthetic leg. Accepting this new reality was not easy, and I struggled to share my story.
15 January 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
14 January 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Exposure story
SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 14: Life below water, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
The resolutions welcomes the progress made towards mainstreaming of disability inclusion and ensuring the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities in volunteerism, and noting the importance of removing barriers to ensure their full, equal and meaningful participation in volunteerism.
13 January 2025
Global
Article
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
There was no girl to recite the alphabet
And there was no one to write
No one to read
Those sounds, the girl’s sounds
Had died under the brickbat of idiotism
And Buddha collapsed out of shame.
My poetry echoes the challenges in my homeland—Afghanistan.
Despite these challenges, particularly for women and girls, I've found a path of purpose as a UN Volunteer.
09 January 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Success stories
SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 14: Life below water, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
31 December 2024
Asia and the Pacific
Exposure story