18 September 2008

N'Djamena, Chad: I started with the United Nations Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) three months ago as a UNV volunteer. Working with a team of about 12 people at the IT unit of the Communication and Information Technology Section as an IT Assistant, my principal function is to ensure timely and daily technical assistance to users.

I am assigned to the old MINURCAT headquarters, assisting civilians as well as UN police. My duties include resolving printing problems, network access problems (both Local Area Network and Internet), antivirus installation and updates, software installation, archiving and compacting data, and much more.

I start my days very early and finish late. In fact, I have to get at my office before the official working hour, which is 8:30 am and leave after 5:30 pm. In order not to be submerged by my work, I do the planning of certain tasks in advance. For example, concerning antivirus updating which is done manually for now, I have planned to do it every two or three weeks.

Day after day, the mission is growing with the coming of more staff. For new users in my location, I configure their desktops or laptops, grant them access to the network and services such as mail, printing, and related services.
 
I must admit that it is not always easy, because sometimes, I have to carry out my assignment according to users' moods and that requires a lot of patience and understanding. Moreover, some are not familiar with computer tools; it takes time to give them certain basic concepts. But, with good will and patience, I always reached my objectives and keep the work going.

Before working with MINURCAT in Chad, I served as a UNV volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for almost a year. I can say that it's a new and different experience here. With peacekeeping missions, the number of users (UN staff) is huge and directly linked to the volume of work.
 
To be a volunteer means to be a forerunner, somebody who has the courage and takes the risk to provide services and support in very difficult circumstances. It is transforming people's lives by showing them something new. As a volunteer over the years, I have been part of transforming UN missions, communities and colleagues. To be a volunteer is also fun, most especially after we have come and gone.