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

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: "As a volunteer, I have learned a new perspective on how to approach and tackle problems, and so far the experience could not have been more enriching," says Annalisa Staffa, UNV HIV Official Assistant. Annalisa spends most of her time in maternity hospitals making sure new-born babies come to life free of HIV and syphilis. Read

Barahona, Dominican Republic: We provided them with the instruments and knowledge required to help overcome future natural disasters. Being a UNV volunteer placed me among the people in need and allowed me to walk with them through the difficult path of recovery. Read

Bonn, Germany: People living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic are banding together, and standing up for their rights. Knowing best what they need, they support each other in self-help groups - backed by HIV-positive UN Volunteers. As peer counsellors and educators, these UNVs inform HIV-infected people about the help they can receive and encourage them to speak out and get involved. In prisons, for example, they support inmates who have decided to take action against the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS in detention cells. Read

Bonn, Germany: UN studies note that a record 2.6 million people died from the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 1999 and another 5.6 million became infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The fight against HIV/AIDS is not only medical. The stigma of AIDS and its effect on societies is also an enemy UN Volunteers are combating. UNVs -- many of them infected with HIV -- have stepped into the open to give a human face and voice to the epidemic. Read