I began my career at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as a communications specialist. But the role was never the reason I stayed. What drew me, and what continues to anchor me, is the simple purpose of the work: helping people in need, especially children, and contributing to lives that deserve more protection, dignity and opportunity. I often say I have been fortunate to spend my entire career at UNICEF. Not because it was easy, but because it allowed me to live out a conviction I formed early on. Service matters. Values matter. Care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability and sustainability are not words on paper. They are daily choices. They shape how we show up for others.
Early windows to the world
My sense of responsibility began at home. When I was a child, my parents welcomed refugees into our house. I was young, but I remember the quiet adjustments. New languages at the table. Different customs. Stories shaped by loss and resilience. Those experiences opened my eyes to the realities faced by people living through crises and displacement. They taught me empathy long before I had a name for it. Around the same time, I had a pen friend from Madagascar. We exchanged letters, stories and small details about daily life. Long before I ever set foot in the country, Madagascar lived in my imagination. Years later, serving here feels less like arrival and more like a return.
Leadership learned from young people
Throughout my career, my belief in people-centred leadership was shaped by working alongside young people. In many countries, I have seen youth advocates step forward with courage, clarity and creativity. They do not wait for permission. They organise, speak up and lead on issues they care deeply about, from climate justice to education and gender equality. Being close to that energy is grounding. It reminds me that leadership is not about directing others from above. It is about creating space.
Encouraging initiative. Trusting people to lead in their own way. When people, young and old, are supported to contribute meaningfully, they do not just participate. They transform societies and inspire hope.
In Madagascar, volunteerism holds enormous potential. The challenges facing communities are complex, and no single actor can address them alone. Volunteers—especially young people—bring vital energy, creativity and deep connections to the communities they serve.
When their contributions are recognised, supported and aligned with national priorities, they become a powerful force for progress. In this way, volunteers bring the UN commitment to leaving no one behind, to life. Volunteers reach the hardest-to-reach places, offering hope to the most remote communities. I have seen this firsthand at UNICEF Madagascar, where volunteers, including UN Volunteers, play a critical role in driving community-level change. Recently, more than 32 UN Volunteers came together under a joint project between UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA to support peacebuilding among local communities across Madagascar. Their contributions demonstrated the power of volunteers in driving practical change and building stronger, more resilient communities.
Service as foundation
As leaders, we should continue modelling a society where care, service, humility and ethics are held in high regard, especially for the most vulnerable members of our societies, such as children.
Nelson Mandela once said that there is no clearer measure of a society’s soul than how it treats its children. I hold that thought close. The way we treat the smallest reflects who we are. This quote motivates me to always do better for children in my work and throughout my career at UNICEF.
To the young changemakers of Madagascar and beyond, your voice matters. Your actions matter. Your compassion is not a weakness. It is a strength. Keep speaking. Keep building. Keep caring. Never give up. Hold on to your ideals and aspirations and never underestimate the power of your voice or your actions.
At UNICEF and across the UN, we believe in your potential to transform communities, act for a better planet and defend the rights of every child. Keep dreaming boldly, acting bravely and leading with heart. The world needs you now more than ever.
This blog is part of Journeys of Inspiration, a photobook. Many of the leaders whose stories are captured in this book began their journeys not in positions of authority, but in service—as UN Volunteers, as community activists, as individuals determined to make a difference.