Hana Abdi Salad is a national UN Volunteer Specialist Youth and Innovation Associate. She is based in Garowe, Somalia with UNICEF. She says the best part of her volunteering assignment is to interact with young people and support their aspirations. This is her story.
I am the focal point of UPSHIFT with UNICEF. which aims at youth social innovation.
Youth need to feel safe and protected. UPSHIFT centers on protection concerns for positive change – both socially and economically. It also contributes youth entry to the job market. By giving youth essential skills and preparing them to take charge of their present and future as entrepreneurs.
With added confidence, youth enter the job market and reintegrate back into the community.
I get a window into the lives of young people –their challenges, and also get an up close and personal view of the diversity of their opinions. Through this process I can think of ways to support them.
Through volunteering, I become part of the solution. And volunteering also allows me to be an active voice for young people's sustainable business initiatives.
Every volunteering journey is different. We all have our reasons for joining this path. By the end of the day, no matter what drives you, I believe that by volunteering I contribute to expanding youth participation in the communities that I serve in.
Volunteering is about listening and putting value to voices other than your own. And that's very important but it's something that is not given much importance to.
When we speak about youth, we also speak about the social inclusion. Hearing and most importantly paying attention to their voices and then acting on them. Creating opportunities and expanding the space for youth. I have learned so much about child protection, vulnerable groups, rights of girls and women, and society at large.
When I end my UN Volunteer assignment, I want to sit back and hear the voice of youth – and hope for everyone around me, especially in policy and decision-making to also hear the voice of youth and to create a space where youth can thrive to the fullest.