In the windswept sands of Western Sahara, where the land is unforgiving and the heat relentless, UN Volunteers are quietly making peace possible. They work with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Things get tough out here—but the work doesn’t stop. These volunteers keep going, meeting urgent needs and holding the line on peace and humanitarian work.
Douglas Mikioo, UN Volunteer Engineering Assistant and Plant Equipment Operator
For Douglas, peace starts with pipes, concrete, and clean water. His day begins at a desk—signing off on supply requests. But it quickly shifts to the field, where he makes sure water flows across the base and building materials reach remote teams. "My various roles are part of moving forward with peace, step by step."
Jean Bavuge, Water and Sanitation Technician
In a place where water is worth more than gold, Jean Bavuge purifies water, runs sewage systems, and taps into solar power to power the mission's day-to-day needs. "Clean water is the foundation of peace, and I feel privileged to help deliver it to one of the world's most difficult environments,"
Vivian Njogu, UN Volunteer Environmental Officer
Vivian is a champion for sustainability. In a workplace where where every watt and drop matters, she encourages her colleagues to use resources wisely and build greener habits. "Collectively, we're building a more efficient and resilient mission in some of the world's most fragile ecosystems."
In the harsh deserts of Western Sahara, UN Volunteers are building peace with their hands—not words. They fix what’s broken, deliver clean water, and protect the land they stand on. Their work is also deeply humanitarian. Each one working—quietly, steadily, without fanfare.
Because peace isn’t just about ending conflict. Not is it about podiums or speeches or photo ops; sometimes, it's about simple measures such as laying pipes, wiring solar panels, and planting the seeds of stability in one of the toughest places on earth. It’s about showing up—day after day—to meet basic human needs in places where survival itself is a challenge. That’s humanitarian work. That’s peace in action.