Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: My work as a UN Volunteer with UNICEF Dominican Republic has been the most challenging experience of my professional career. Before arriving I did not know exactly what to expect from a different country and health system. After only a few months, I was aware of the existing problems and I was ready to contribute my knowledge and skills and work with local actors to achieve a common goal. Read

La Paz, Bolivia: My name is Teresa Calderón; I’m a social communicator. I joined UNICEF in 2008 as a UN Volunteer to support community health actions with a focus on nutrition.

From this office we support the National Zero Malnutrition Programme, which is currently a priority for the Bolivian Government. Read

Dili, Timor-Leste: "In the villages, I meet and discuss with community members about their water, sanitation and hygiene situation and how we can find solutions together." Read

La Paz, Bolivia: "For me it is a great experience to contribute to small-scale rural water and sanitation projects that have such an impact on daily life, especially for women and children." Read

La Paz, Bolivia: Koenraad Vancraeynest, UNV Water and Sanitation Officer, is happy to be able to contribute to small-scale rural water and sanitation projects that have a big impact on daily life, especially for women and children. "As a UN Volunteer with UNICEF, it is for me an everyday responsibility and a challenge to pass these values on," says Koenraad. Read

La Paz, Bolivia: Teresa Calderón, national UNV Health Specialist, supports the National Zero Malnutrition Programme through community health actions with a focus on nutrition. Teresa's experience as a UN Volunteer has convinced her that "willpower can make roses grow in the desert". Read

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: “The volunteers were able to build meaningful relationships with elderly members of the nursing home and broaden their own understanding of various elder-related issues. The initiative aims to promote awareness of volunteerism, philanthropy and community service. The very fabric of Kyrgyz society depends on the efforts of individual citizens to voluntarily reach out to those in need and lend a helping hand.” Read

Guatemala City, Guatemala: My work as a UN Volunteer with the WFP has been very interesting, challenging and rewarding. Guatemala has one of the world’s highest rates of chronic under nutrition in children below the age of five. My work has been rewarding because our efforts do have an impact. Read

Port au Prince, Haiti: The Community Violence Section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti has been crisscrossing the country's cholera affected areas to fill the lack of water purification equipment. Each team is composed of local staff and UNV volunteers who distribute water filters and purification tablets to head teachers, managers of orphanages, churches and other community centres where many people gather. Read

The result was a solid report analyzing the status of the right to health in Guatemala, showing the inequalities that characterize the country, the weakness of health determinants in rural areas and the gap in the enjoyment of this right between indigenous and non-indigenous people. Read