SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
At 28, while working for Human Rights Internet in Ottawa, I discovered that UNV was recruiting volunteers for Guatemala. Volunteering had always been close to my heart, even before my time as a UN Volunteer. During my university days, I helped a Salvadoran refugee family who had fled El Salvador’s civil war, facilitating their integration into Canadian society.
27 March 2025
Global
Success stories
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
"After months of uncertainty, of longing for home, today is the day I return. This journey has been filled with challenges, resilience, and hope. Each step back home brings a flood of memories—some painful, some warm.
Displacement is more than just leaving a place; it’s leaving behind a part of yourself. The streets feel familiar yet different, carrying the weight of what was lost and the promise of what can be rebuilt.
20 March 2025
Arab States
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Laure is a fully funded UN Volunteer from France who started her assignment in September 2023.
10 December 2024
Europe and Central Asia
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Chinenye Anekwe is a UN Volunteer Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) India Office since August 2024. She is a 2018 fellow of GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GRÓ GEST).
31 October 2024
Asia and the Pacific
Article
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
A friendship match bringing together young refugees into the fold of opportunities—was one of the highlights of Shuhei's assignment. Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, with 80 percent of the refugees across 13 districts.
08 October 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
The war continues unabated in its eleventh month. In this backdrop, Elena Mansour, from the Netherlands, serves as a UN Volunteer in Security Analysis and Training with the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Bureau in Egypt. She reports on security and political developments regarding food security. This reporting is vital to forecast potential risks for famine.
19 August 2024
Arab States
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
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.
19 August 2024
Global
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Grace Kironcho is from Kenya and serves with UNHCR in Nigeria. She is 33 years old.
16 August 2024
West and Central Africa
Success stories
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
“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.
14 August 2024
Arab States
Success stories
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
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.
19 June 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories