Sharon Capeling-Alakija, UNV Executive Coordinator passed away on 4 November 2003. She was a strong advocate of volunteerism for more than 30 years.

Prior to joining UNV in 1998, Sharon Capeling-Alakija was Director of the Office of Evaluation and Strategic Planning (OESP) at UNDP’s New York headquarters. Previously, she was Director of UNIFEM, the UN Development Fund for Women. She began her career as a volunteer with the Canadian organization CUSO (formerly Canadian University Service Overseas). During her subsequent 14 years with CUSO, she served as Director of Public Affairs and Programme Funding, Director of the Human Resources Division, and Director for the programme in West Africa, based in Lomé, Togo.